Located approximately mid-way between Swindon and Oxford on the main A420 East - West road and approximately 2miles south of the Radcot Bridge (the oldest bridge on the Thames) crossing of the River Thames on the A4095 major North - South route from the midlands to the south of England. Faringdon has occupied a strategic position in North-South and East-West communications within the country since earliest times. This fortunate geographical location is the very reason for Faringdon's existence. In the spring and summer of 1940 after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from France the victorious German Army stood in the Pas de Calais preparing for the invasion of England. The strategic aim of the Germans was to invade England and force the British Government to capitulate in the same way as the French Government had done. Britains defences were limited to a coastal fringe which, once penetrated, would permit the German Army to roam freely through southern England . The Germans intention was to move rapidly inland and to attempt to capture the Thames bridges. In June 1940 Faringdon was identified to be a 'Vital Point' and designated as an 'Anti-Tank Island' (a defensive strongpoint) comprising road blocks, pill boxes, fortified houses and loopholed walls. The defence system of Faringdon was part of 'Stop Line Red' which extended along the River Thames. Radcot Bridge was a major defensive feature located some 2 miles to the north on the A4095. |
Faringdon Folly was the OP (Observation Post) for the Faringdon Company of the Home Guard which had been formed in late May 1940 following the wireless broadcast appeal by Anthony Eden The Folly gave 360 degree all round observation and would have been manned in shifts by two or three men throughout the invasion scare period in 1940 but would have been more relaxed as the invasion threat declined. |
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At the foot of Folly Hill on the north side of the Oxford road there is a pillbox still in existence which defended a road block (you can still see the recessed wall on the south side of the road opposite the pillbox which would have been the anchor point for the road block). On either side of the pillbox on the north side of the road, the roadside wall has been cut down in height to give a good field of fire for the troops in the pillbox. |
 Pill Box, London Road |
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| There are concrete cylinders which would have formed part of a roadblock at the crest of the rise 200 yards on the Oxford side of the pillbox. The cylindrical concrete bollards would have been spaced across the road to constrict the road width with only a single vehicle able to pass at any one time. Further bollards could also have been pulled cross in time of emergency to totally block the road. They weren't intended to stop tanks but would certainly have slowed them down. The local landowner piled some of these on top of each other during the 1980's to give a decorative feature to gateways on either side of the road. In the 1980's the entrance had a 3 tier pile of the bollards as a marker/ decorative feature. The height was reduced when the new gate was put in place. |
 Remains of Road block, London Road |
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There is a loopholed wall in the building which in 1940 was the Faringdon Police Station. There is a loopholed wall in the building which in 1940 was the Faringdon Police Station. |
 Faringdon Police Station from 1855 until 1970s |
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There was a further road block defended by a pillbox on the A4095 as you descend the hill out of Faringdon heading towards Radcot Bridge. You can still see the place where the wall was repaired after the war. The pillbox on the Radcot Bridge road was under the statue. The retaining wall below the statue along the side of the road shows the mark of having been rebuilt postwar. This is where a roadblock would also have been in place. |
 Statue on old pill box plinth, Radcot Road |
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| A company of Royal Marines was stationed in Faringdon in
summer 1940. Their task was to defend the Faringdon strong point assisted by
the Home Guard. The presence of the Royal Marines is acknowledged by the naming of Marines Drive., just off what is now Butts Close, off Park Road Later in the war, Canadian troops were based in Faringdon and that is also acknowledged by a road name - Canada Lane commemorates their presence. They were encamped in that area. Defensive slit Trenches were dug in the grounds of Faringdon House. |
| Bill
King Coleshill Auxilliary Research Team www.coleshillhouse.com November 2011 |