Wartime fortifications unearthed at new Sussex housing development

More than 25 defensive tank traps were unearthed at the Perceval Grange development in Midhurst.

During the war the town was an important strategic location and a range of defensive fortifications were put in place in the area in the event of an invasion on the South Coast. The concrete anti-tank obstacles were designed to hold up the enemy and restrict their route of attack.

Housebuilder Bellway is working with Midhurst Town Council and the Cowdray Estate to preserve and explain the historic items, with plans for the tank traps to go on display around the town and at the development alongside information boards detailing their history.

• The WW II tank traps unearthed at Bellway’s Perceval Grange (Image: Nick Cansfield)

The Midhurst Society, which aims to explore the town’s history, was excited by the discovery.

Chairman of the group Nick Cansfield said: “We were thrilled when Justine Hope, the site manager for Bellway, got in touch to tell us that they had been uncovered.

Justine Hope of Bellway and local historian Dave Rudwick with wartime helmets  (Image: Nick Cansfield)

"We are grateful to Midhurst Town Council, Cowdray Estate and Bellway for ensuring that they can be displayed across Midhurst as a reminder of the important defensive position that the town held during the War.”

Daniel Williamson, sales director for Bellway South London, said: “We were keen to make sure that we do them justice by putting them on display in the town and at Perceval Grange and explaining their significance to residents and visitors to the area.”

The northern part of the Perceval Grange site was a brickworks between 1913 and 1985, with the southern part of the site most recently used as a West Sussex County Council depot.