WW2 Structures

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Group of six structures which formed the core of a WW2 Radar Station in field to N of 6&8 Annalong Road, Ballymartin.

A) Derelict single storey / single bay picket post in SW corner (by access lane).

Pitched corrugated asbestos roof aligned N-S (rear pitch off). No rainwater goods. Walls are a single skin red brick, cement rendered, with a buttress at either end and on a concrete base. Front (W) elevation has a sheeted timber door (off hinges and rotten) to right and a blocked up window to left. The right (S) gable has a pair of eight paned steel casements in a single opening with a sloping brown tile cill. Rear wall has a single eight paned casement with tiled cill. Left (N) gable has an infilled window. Walls seem to have been formerly painted black.

B) Large rectangular single storey / single bay shed to N of picket post.

Pitched corrugated asbestos roof aligned SW-NE, with later perspex roof panels and supported on four metal trusses. Walls are double skin red brick with buttresses at regular intervals, on a concrete base. Front (SW) gable has a large rolling corrugated metal door (later), hung over an original opening. Left and right elevations are blank, although left (NW) is embanked with earth to c1m high and right is now abutted by a large concrete blockwork shed.

Rear (NE) gable is canted forward in a prow, and seems to have been rebuilt in gable apex. It is abutted by a single store / single bay structure (possible blast walling) which now has a roughly constructed corrugated asbestos roof. It has a central door and its right (NW) elevation is embanked with earth.

C) Single storey / single bay store building to immediate N of building B.

Flat concrete roof, with a bituminous coating. No rainwater goods. Walls are red brick on a concrete base. Its front (SE) elevation has a pair of original sheeted timber doors to right and a pair of eight paned steel casements with tiled cill to left. Its left (SW) elevation has a louvred timber vent at left. Its rear (NW) elevation has a small (hatch sized) hinged metal door at right. Right (NE) elevation is blank.

D) Single storey / single bay air raid shelter to N of group.

Rectangular flat concrete roof aligned W-E and projecting to E end as a porch. Walls have an inner and outer brick skin and a concrete core, all blank. At E end the porch is supported by a blank blast wall and accessed from front and rear (N and S). Within the porch, leading into shelter, is a single doorway (no door).

E) Single storey / two bay latrine block at E side of group.

Pitched lean–to corrugated asbestos roof aligned NW-SE. Walls are single skin of red brick on a concrete base. Front and rear walls (SW and NE) are identical. Each has a sheeted timber door and an eight paned steel casement window (obscured glass) with tiled cill (to left). End walls are blank.

F) Ruinous single storey / single bay structure to SW of building E. Only three red brick walls remain on a concrete base.

Historical information

It is believed that this group was a radar / communications station serving Greencastle Aerodrome (Cranfield Ward HB16/04/...) near Kilkeel. It is potentially associated with the former radar station at Maghereagh townland (HB16/02/055-7). The air raid shelter is the first surveyed in the area to be only one bay, the others (at Cranfield) are two bay.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An interesting group of some historic importance as a defensive structure and part of a much larger complex.