Sounds bizarre, but true – well, after a fashion…

In fact, the photo below shows the remains of the Accrington decoy control bunker, one of five “Starfish” [‘SF- was the abbreviation for ‘Special Fire’ – later becoming known as “Starfish”] WW2 bombing decoy sites built to protect the Howard & Bullough works, also known as “The Globe Works”, in Accrington. The factory had been converted to manufacturing “war work”.   The existence of the Accrington Starfish site – and others like it – remained a state secret under the “30-year rule” until the late 1970s. [This paragraph’s information is obtained from the book: “Fields of Deception” (author Colin Dobinson), published by Methuen for English Heritage 2013.]

Once the bunker has been seen, it is recognizable on the skyline to the right from the A56 heading north from Rising Bridge, near and above the turn-off for Mitchell House Reservoirs and water treatment works, just off The King’s Highway.

The site is – only just – on open access land at: OS Explorer 287: SD 787280 (What 3 Words: woodstove.remodels.agreeing).

To understand the site without trespassing (as buildings are classed as “Excepted land” even if on open access land), it’s worth opening this link which contains a helpful diagram, as well as interesting photos:

Sadly, the site is deteriorating, and the blast wall that protected the entrance to the bunker’s corridor has collapsed.

Thganks to Chris Ainsworth for both the article and the photograph.