Littleover WWII Installations 

Littleover WWII Installations

Littleover does not having a traditional connection with the military. But it did have a number of military installations spring up during WWII. Chris Drury , a local author,  has listed and described the sites of those and civilian installations to the best of his recollections and from what he has been told.

Blagreaves Lane Depot

Where the houses numbered 141 to 155 on Blagreaves Lane are now built, stood an Army Stores/Supply Depot. The depot comprised a number of Nissen huts. It is not known what was stored there but rumour had it that among the stores were supplies of cigarettes. When the huts were removed their foundations were left derelict for many years until the houses were built.

Emergency Water Supply Tanks

There were a number of Emergency Water Supply Tanks (EWS), also known as Static Water Tanks, scattered around Littleover these are covered elsewhere on the L.H.S. website under ‘Wartime Water Storage Tanks’ to view follow the link……

Harpur Avenue Camp

Harpur Avenue up to the war came to a dead end where it reached the boundary of the Griff Closes. The boundary hedge was opened up to gain access to those closes. Part of the closes were requisitioned to form the Harpur Avenue Camp. I have vague recollection of the camp buildings, when I once walked up through the camp, I think the huts were wooden. Years later when the camp was derelict, I remember seeing the broken-up foundations.

There is no record of the camp or who actually manned the camp, but it was common knowledge that the Canadian Army were billeted there at some stage during and shortly after the war. There may have been as many as a battalion stationed there.

The former camp site is now where Greenacres, Greenfields Avenue, West View Avenue and Harpur Avenue extension were built. The lower part of the camp is now covered with trees and bushes.

Harpur Avenue HAA Gun Site

In the corner of a field adjacent to the Harpur Avenue Camp was a deep, redundant clay pit. This pit was the site of a large gun. This gun fired heavy anti-aircraft shells (HAA) for the defence of Derby and the many industrial sites. This was another of the many mobile and static AA guns, stationed or deployed to defend Derby.

Littleover Old Hall

Littleover Old Hall was, rebuilt c.1600, and then replaced in the 1890s. The estate was considerably reduced in size by sales of land until all that was left was the hall, lodge, outbuildings, gardens and pleasure grounds.

During WWII, the stables and other outbuildings were converted into a decontamination centre. This was in anticipation of gas attacks.

Littleover Grange

Littleover Grange began as an attractive Regency villa of c.1814. It was enlarged in the 1870s and 1940s. It was bought by Reuben Eastwood in 1874. He extended and altered the house, which remained in the Eastwood family until bought by the parish council in 1938.

At the outbreak of World War II the house was requisitioned by Rolls Royce as an overspill development office for the Merlin aero engine. Rolls Royce also added workshops.

School Air Raid Shelters

The two schools in Littleover, St. Peter’s Church School and Gayton Avenue Infant and Junior School were equipped with air raid shelters for their pupils. St. Peter’s had four air raid shelters, one located in the girls playground and the other three at the north end of the school playing field in Normanton Lane. As the war progressed these became available to the public. Gayton Avenue had three shelters on the north side of the school playing field.

Sunnyhill Barrage Balloon

Along the ancient ridgeway footpath between Gayton Avenue and Maple Avenue there were once allotments. One of those allotments was taken over for a barrage balloon to be located. This balloon was one of around 30 barrage balloons that flew over Derby. The balloon was held down by ropes and cables tethered to large concrete blocks. It was raised and lowered by a winch operated by RAF or WAAF personnel.

Sunnyhill HAA Gun Site

Uplands Avenue was being developed before the war and it came to a dead-end where it reached the ancient pathway. In the field just beyond the boundary hedge where Saint George’s and Ridgeway Schools are now located, and somewhere between the two buildings was a deep redundant clay pit. In this pit a large naval gun was placed. This static gun fired heavy anti-aircraft shells (HAA) for the defence of Derby and the many industrial sites. The gun was nicknamed ‘Big Bertha’. Access to the gun site was through the hedge, a chain was placed across the opening to stop vehicles going through. Derby was defended by as many as 40 mobile and static 3.7-inch AA guns, stationed or deployed on sites around the town.

The Towers

The Towers is a three-storey large dwelling house, built in 1900, in a neo-Jacobean style with a square tower over the entrance. It was originally named ‘The Paddocks’ and was later named ‘The Towers’. It was numbered 112 Blagreaves Lane. At its south side, is an earlier built cottage, No 114, to which the larger house was attached. Directly behind No 114 was added a wing to The Towers, and numbered 114a. This was built as accommodation for a school.

In September 1939 The Towers was requisitioned by the War Office. This was to house the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) Army Food Unit. Occupation lasted throughout the war until 1946. Butchery was one of the skills taught in one of the many tents erected in the grounds.

Uplands Avenue

Where the houses numbered 16 to 22 on Uplands Avenue are now build was a small Army Camp. This was probably to house the troops manning the nearby gun on the Sunnyhill HAA Gun Site. Some years later when the camp when was derelict and before the houses were built, the foundations of the huts could be seen.

Willson Road Corner

At the corner of Willson Road and Blagreaves Lane stood two raised wooden bungalows (bungalow on stilts). One of the bungalows was taken over by the army. A senior Canadian army officer and his family lived there.

Those bungalows were demolished a long time ago and the houses numbered 23 to 27, Blagreaves Lane where build on the land.

Chris Drury

August 2025