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World War 2 Glider Obstructions, Ryton Willows
During World War Two, two parallel rows of earthworks were dug running north- south in a field in Ryton Willows, designed to prevent enemy aircraft from using it as a landing ground. Each row contains a number of pits, with spoil heaped next to them as an extra obstruction. The standard plan for trench layouts was for them to be constructed in a grid layout of 150 yard squares, with pits at least 2 feet 6 inches deep and preferably 4 feet wide. The obstructions at Ryton Willows do not follow this system, as they are not arranged in a grid, but instead are formed into two lines, 191m apart. A grid arrangement was probably not used in this case as the field was too narrow for aircraft to land in a north-south direction, making another row of obstructions unnecessary.
The obstructions are very readily accessible from the public footpath which leads through the Ryton Willows Nature Reserve, and can be seen well preserved both on the ground and in aerial photographs.
A Guide to the Archaeology Of the Twentieth Century Defence Sites of Tyne and Wear by R Whaley, J Morrison and D Heslop. Newcastle City Council Tyne & Wear Specialist Conservation Team (2008):
Link
Archive Link
Tyne and Wear HER(1904): Ryton Willows, WW2 aircraft obstruction ditches Link Archive Link
The obstructions are very readily accessible from the public footpath which leads through the Ryton Willows Nature Reserve, and can be seen well preserved both on the ground and in aerial photographs.
A Guide to the Archaeology Of the Twentieth Century Defence Sites of Tyne and Wear by R Whaley, J Morrison and D Heslop. Newcastle City Council Tyne & Wear Specialist Conservation Team (2008):
Link
Archive LinkTyne and Wear HER(1904): Ryton Willows, WW2 aircraft obstruction ditches Link
Archive LinkCreated: Wed, 13 Mar 2013, Updated: Tue, 17 Jan 2023
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