Bofors Tower, approx. 500M NNW of Christ Church

Heritage listing

Details 1607/0/10001 DUNKIRK Bofors tower, approximately 500 metres north north west of Christ Church 06-AUG-02 II Bofors gun tower. 1940. Reinforced concrete. PLAN: the structure stands to a height of about 5m and consists of two parallel, independent towers, separated for much of their height by a 1.2m wide gap. At ground level this gap functioned as a passageway, providing access to the chambers on either side. The passage opens onto a level walkway surrounding the base of the two towers and partly sunk into the crest of the hill to the east. EXTERIOR: the larger, southern tower measures about 10m east to west by 7m north to south and was constructed on two levels comprising two brick-walled ground floor chambers with the ordnance emplacement on the roof. The open roof space is reached from ground level via external concrete steps attached to the southern side of the tower. The Bofors gun (which had an effective range of about 2km) was mounted at the centre of the roof on a low, hexagonal concrete drum. This still survives together with its steel holdfast frame. The gun position is flanked by two ammunition lockers, set behind the parapet to the east and west. The western cell is cantilevered out beyond the wall of the tower below, and is supported by three concrete piers. The eastern cell has been under-built in brick creating a second chamber at ground level. The adjacent tower, which measures about 5sq m, supported the target predictor on its flat concrete roof - the intervening gap insulating this sensitive equipment from the vibration of the Bofors gun. Photographic evidence of a similar tower during operation suggests that the much lighter Lewis gun may have been placed at the centre of this roof, with the predictor installed alongside. This roof platform is ra

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.