Hazeley Heath Tank Testing Ramp


Military Concrete Remains on Hazeley Heath, Hartley Wintney, Hampshire.

NGR SU764577

tankramp4

Situated on Hazeley Heath Common near Hartley Wintney are some unusual concrete structures that date from pre WW2.

The concrete relics are fully accessible to the public and are at the end of a short concrete road leading from the main path from the heath, the double wall structure is placed in front of a 28ft x 27ft square which appears to be made of four individual Squares.

The walls are 4ft high and 15ft apart,and they are reinforced by rail-line RSJ`s, between the walls iron RSJ structures run cross ways, these have small concrete ramps in front of them, at the front is an angled concrete wedge which had some RSJ`s jutting from it in the past, these have since ben removed.

Concrete remains on Hazeley Heath

Concrete remains on Hazeley Heath

About 75ft from the front of the wall is the top of the sloping ramp, this runs approximatly 150ft to the bottom.

At the base is a large concrete foundation offset to the right.The slope is now heavily covered in moss and leaves, but its distinctive features can still be found.

The width of the ramp is approx 8ft 3″, each raised side being about 2ft wide

Running down each side are spaced large iron plates measuring 10″x15″, these are secured by studding approx every 4 ft or so. A short way down the ramp I discovered an overgrown walkway each side, this appears to have been formed by corrugated shuttering placed along the sides.The area is commonly known by locals as the” tank ramp”.

I was told this was used for tank evaluation and for testing of steel hawsers from possibly WW1 up including WW2., there are stories of a tank that had sunk into a nearby bog and was never recovered, sinking away from view, i have also heard of Metal tank tracks being found on a  secluded part of the heath,these have yet to be discovered.

By Tim Denton 2003