A rare find

Whilst out walking the dogs the other day I espied an interesting feature perched atop a gantry over the roof of the former Ordnance Factory No.10 (Roften) at Hooton. This is a very rare item to find in situ and is a 'Consol' firewatching shelter. These were installed in order to provide some protection from shrapnel for the firewatchers who were there to protect the factory from incendiary bombs. It is made of a goodly thickness of mild steel and contained a seat and small shelf with, almost certainly, a telephone. This is one of two that survive at this site which manufactured heavy anti-aircraft guns during WWII.