MILITARY PROCESSION WILL SET OFF FROM MINEHEAD
North Hill was an important military complex during World War II and it’s great to be able to bring to life the role that it played in maintaining national security at this critical time.
A convoy of military vehicles and folk dressed in wartime attire will depart from Minehead next Saturday (21st September) at 10:30am for ‘North Hill on the Radar’ – a celebration of wartime heritage hosted by Exmoor National Park and the National Trust. The spectacle will this year form part of the region’s first ever Exmoor Historic Buildings Festival (16th-22nd September) organised in conjunction with Heritage Open Days – a nationwide celebration of English history and culture offering free days out across the country.
In World War II, North Hill was closed to civilians and brought under military control. It became one of country’s five new tank training ranges for British, American and Canadian troops. Tucked down the coastal slopes lay a top-secret Radar Station, one of 244 across the country and part of a coastal defensive chain to identify shipping and low flying aircraft. The stations were ‘manned’ 24 hours a day and operators at Radar Stations were often women from the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).
The convoy will parade along Minehead seafront via Blenheim gardens, before heading up North Hill where spectators can discover more about this incredible time through displays at the Radar Station and guided walks of the training grounds across to Bossington Hill. There will also be a chance to learn about and have a go at spotting some of the incredible wildlife found in the area.
The full programme of events for the Exmoor Historic Buildings Festival is available on the Exmoor National Park Authority’s website (www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.
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