Hi a small group of us have been shown a area used as a dump postwar and probably during WW2 too. It is only 200m from a busy A road but not very accessible. We have recovered a few items that were on the surface but there could be a significant amount that is buried just below the surface, and it looks like the area has not been touched since the 50’s. None of us have any experience of this sort of thing and are not collectors, just interested in the history. I believe the area is still owned by the MoD and managed by a local countryside trust and is not fenced off or anything. Any info on the legals of removing stuff would be appreciated.
So far we have a set of Wellington type tyres, with at least one more in situ, and a couple of nav light perspex covers from as yet unknown type. Scattered over the site( maybe 1/2 acre) are lots of domestic/MT rubbish from the period but there is also stuff like control cable run brackets, seat covers, and cooling pipes on the surface. Ultimately we may be looking at Mosquito parts from striped airframes disposed of here?
Rob
By: DaveF68 - 30th June 2017 at 11:10
“I believe the area is still owned by the MoD and managed by a local countryside trust”
MOd is the landowner
By: TonyT - 27th June 2017 at 11:22
Make sure you say you will tidy and leave the site presentable, it will allay any fears of great big holes and rubbish strewn everywhere..
By: oldgit158 - 27th June 2017 at 10:22
Under the Theft act its down as “Theft by finding” low level crime however still is an arrestable offence plus you could be charged with trespass on top, so when you approach the landowner it may be best not mentioning what you did or found in the first instance.
Regards
Jason
By: Rocketeer - 27th June 2017 at 09:46
Good plan. To be honest, if you go to the landowner with a sensible/common sense plan (i.e. hand dig with make amends afterwards), a bit about the history of the site and a mission statement, they can be quite accommodating. Such as statement could be to preserve local history, aviation heritage and aid museum restorations etc.
By: farnboroughrob - 27th June 2017 at 08:22
Hi in the next week I am going to go and take photos of everything on the surface, then I am going to contact the land owner. This is just in case I get a big no and they fence it all in!
By: brataccas - 26th June 2017 at 22:07
any chance of some photos of the items? id love to see, as mentioned by someone else be really really careful with what you touch down there, high chance of asbestos and other nasty contaminants
“I would say it is simple – it would be theft!”
I call it permanently borrowing 🙂
By: farnboroughrob - 26th June 2017 at 08:13
Hi guys thanks for all the info. As I said we are just some local enthusiasts who have been pointed at the dump by a ex employee. We have recovered a couple of items from the surface but have gone no further. I will be contacted the suspected land owner today and see what happens.
Rob
By: Denis - 25th June 2017 at 21:25
I also have partaken in the digging of ex RAF dumps, both on non MOD land.
Interested if there are willing diggers wanted, just one question, where would recovered items go?
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th June 2017 at 20:45
Interesting.
Keep us informed of progress, Rob.
Anon.
By: Rocketeer - 25th June 2017 at 20:18
Landowner permission. Nothing required from MoD. Dug a few dumps we have. Happy to help you I’d stuff
By: jonny - 25th June 2017 at 18:10
And if it’s still MOD land, unless you have a right of way or permission to dig on MOD property, you could end up in hot water. Always better to ask……
Rgds
Jonny (ex DIO Mil liaison Officer)
By: WZ862 - 25th June 2017 at 15:55
Instruments.Radioactivity. Radium paint widely used back in the day. Asbestos possibly from firewalls and brakes.
By: smirky - 25th June 2017 at 14:25
Sounds like an exciting discovery, good luck with finding the right way to do it.
By: farnboroughrob - 25th June 2017 at 13:57
That is probably true. However I can easily get permission from the CEO of the company who were last users of the dump, for about 8 years actually.
By: smirky - 25th June 2017 at 12:49
“Any info on the legals of removing stuff would be appreciated. “
I would say it is simple – it would be theft!
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June 25, 2017 at 12:15 pm