Twentieth century

Reminders of the Second World War (together with a few from the First) survive all around us, although the surviving brick and concrete structures are only just beginning to be appreciated as important monuments. Pill-boxes are easily recognisable but other structures, buildings and areas of hardstanding survive from decoy sites (decoy fires and lights, and dummy airfields), radar and radio stations, practice ranges, army camps and local defence. The latter include Auxiliary 202 Unit bunkers and defended locations, of which Helmsley was one – defended by an anti-tank wall and ditch, and roadblocks.

From the Cold War, RAF Fylingdales still sits in our midst, but there was another radar station on the coast at Barnby Howe, near Goldsborough, together with a string of Observer Corps posts throughout the National Park.