Bilberry Hill Gun Proof Range
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Hidden First World War Heritage of the Lickey Hills Bilberry Hill Gun Proof Range The Proof Butts 2018 Issue Number: 01 Page 1 of 64 Published Date: November 2018 Bilberry Hill Gun Proof Range Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4 2 Historical Context ........................................................................................................... 5 2.1 The First World War – Industrial Mobilisation .......................................................... 5 2.1.1 The 4.5” Howitzer ............................................................................................ 5 2.2 The Need for the Bilberry Hill Site ........................................................................... 6 2.2.1 Gun Testing Process ....................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Ministry of Munitions – Inspection Organisation in 1917 ................................... 8 3 Site Location .................................................................................................................. 9 4 Evidence ...................................................................................................................... 10 4.1 Maps ..................................................................................................................... 10 4.1.1 Site Plan (Extrapolated) ................................................................................. 11 4.2 Remaining Structures ........................................................................................... 12 4.2.1 2018 Aerial View ............................................................................................ 14 th th 4.2.2 Proof Butts Clearance 18 & 19 April 2017 .................................................. 15 th 4.2.3 Toilet Block Clearance 25 April 2017 ........................................................... 16 th 4.2.4 Building Recording 17 May 2017 ................................................................. 16 4.3 Old Photographs ................................................................................................... 17 4.4 Bombardier Hudson Copeland Roberts (Royal Garrison Artillery) ......................... 19 st 4.5 Bye-Laws dated 1 November 1917 ..................................................................... 21 4.5.1 Defence of the Realm Act 1914 (DORA) ........................................................ 22 4.6 The Site in Publications ........................................................................................ 23 4.6.1 The Official History of the Ministry of Munitions .............................................. 23 4.6.2 Newspapers and Magazines .......................................................................... 24 th 4.6.3 Gardeners Chronicle 24 April 1920 .............................................................. 24 4.7 The National Archives (TNA) ................................................................................ 25 4.7.1 MUN 7/368 - Provision and maintenance of gun proof range at Holwell ......... 25 4.7.2 MUN4/4984 Munitions Works Board Minutes of Meetings ............................. 28 4.7.3 MUN 4/4987 Munitions Works Board Minutes of Meetings............................. 29 4.8 Birmingham Archives (Wolfson Centre) ................................................................ 29 4.8.1 BCC/1/BO/1/1/4 - Parks Committee Minutes ................................................. 29 4.8.2 BCC/1/BO/1/1/7 - Parks Committee Minutes ................................................. 30 4.9 Later Memories of the Site .................................................................................... 31 4.9.1 Chris Reynolds and Bill Busby – Park Workers ............................................. 31 Issue Number: 01 Page 2 of 64 Published Date: November 2018 Bilberry Hill Gun Proof Range 4.9.2 Keith Williams - Local Resident ...................................................................... 32 4.9.3 Dave Lewis – Local Resident ......................................................................... 32 5 Interpreting the Evidence ............................................................................................. 33 5.1 Identifying and Acquiring the Bilberry Hill Site ....................................................... 34 5.2 Buildings/Facilities ................................................................................................ 35 5.2.1 Building 1 – Engine House (partially demolished) .......................................... 36 5.2.2 Building 2 - Mess Room ................................................................................. 39 5.2.3 Building 3 - Toilet Block ................................................................................. 40 5.2.4 Building 4 - Magazine (remains of) ................................................................. 41 5.2.5 Building 5 - Bunker (demolished) ................................................................... 43 5.2.6 Building 6 - Proof Butts ................................................................................. 45 5.2.7 Building 7 – Pump House(demolished) .......................................................... 47 5.2.8 Building 8 – Guard Room (demolished) ......................................................... 48 5.2.9 Building 9 (demolished) ................................................................................. 48 5.2.10 Building 10 - Barrack Hut (demolished) .......................................................... 49 5.2.11 Buildings 11 - Bungalow and Cottages (demolished) ..................................... 50 5.2.12 Building 12 - Bungalow (private house) .......................................................... 51 5.2.13 Building 13 (demolished) ............................................................................... 52 5.2.14 Building 14 (demolished) ............................................................................... 53 5.2.15 Building 15 (demolished) ............................................................................... 54 5.2.16 Building 16 (demolished) ............................................................................... 54 5.3 Manning the Site .................................................................................................. 55 6 Use of the Site Since the First World War .................................................................... 58 6.1 Recreation ............................................................................................................ 58 6.2 Second World War ................................................................................................ 59 6.3 Later Years ........................................................................................................... 59 6.4 2018 ..................................................................................................................... 60 Appendix. Meanwood Gun Proof Range .......................................................................... 61 Issue Number: 01 Page 3 of 64 Published Date: November 2018 Bilberry Hill Gun Proof Range 1 Introduction The Bilberry Hill Gun Proof Range was built towards the end of the First World War (late 1917), under the direction of the Ministry of Munitions, to carry out the inspection testing of repaired 4.5" howitzer field guns and 18-pdr carriages. The guns and carriages were returned from the battlefields in Europe and repaired at the Austin Motor factory in nearby Longbridge. The range consisted of two large Proof Butts and associated buildings, only some of which are still standing. In March 2017 a team from The Lickey Hills Local History Society, The Lickey Hills Society and the Birmingham Parks Ranger Service began a project to research and record the buildings around the Lickey Hills Country Park Visitor Centre that date back to the First World War. The site was known as the Bilberry Hill Gun Proof Range. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s First World War: then and now Programme. These notes are the result of the research undertaken. Despite diligent and detailed research by the team only a limited amount of evidence specific to this site has been uncovered. Many conclusions in this document have therefore been drawn by looking at evidence available for two ‘sister’ gun proofing sites that were erected at the same time, most notably Meanwood Gun Proof Range near Leeds. Any corrections and/or additions to the information presented will be gratefully received. Please contact The Lickey Hills Local History Society by email: [email protected] with any relevant information. Issue Number: 01 Page 4 of 64 Published Date: November 2018 Bilberry Hill Gun Proof Range 2 Historical Context 2.1 The First World War – Industrial Mobilisation Before the war there was a well-established armaments industry in Britain, supplying the British Army and the Royal Navy as well as providing goods for export. Once the war began it was soon apparent that the existing factories could not provide the huge volumes of guns, shells, etc. that were required. Existing manufacturing companies, such as the Austin Motor Company, were turned over to war production under the direction of the Ministry of Munitions. Women began to take up roles in these factories as the male workforce joined or were called up to the armed forces. See http://www.austinmemories.com/styled-49/index.html