Blacker Bombard Base in Hatfield Heath
One characteristic feature of anti-invasion defences to look out for are the bases for Spigot Mortars (or Blacker Bombard). The spigot mortar was a weapon shunned by the regular army but was issued to the Home Guard in large numbers to protect bridges and other strategic locations. The concrete bases to these weapons, with their steel pintles, can now be found in hedgerows, beside roads, or even exposed in the middle of fields.
The Blacker Bombard was invented by Col. Blacker and developed as part of Churchill's 'Toy Shop' to create cheap and easily produced weapons (after most of the British Army's heavy equipment had been lost at Dunkirk). It fired a 20lb high explosive mortar bomb, propelled by black powder. It had an effective range of c. 100yds in its anti-tank role and up to 450yds when firing a lighter anti-personnel bomb.
In its static defence role, the mortar was mounted on a steel pintle set into a substantial base of re-inforced concrete. This was in turn set within a camouflaged weapons pit to offer some protection to the three man gun crew. A more portable mount was also provided - but was extremely heavy!
Portsdown Tunnels - Invasion Defences - Spigot Mortar
LITTLE HALLINGBURY VILLAGE HISTORY