The East Ridings of Yorkshire played a front line role in Britain's defence 60 years ago. Airbases were once front-line bases in Britain's defences against Nazi Germany and numerous pillboxes and other structures were built to defend the country against a potential invasion from German enemy. The relics of defensive structures from World War Two are becoming valued in themselves as representing an important historical resource. Many pillboxes and other structures have been lost through coastal erosion, while others have been destroyed or broken up on grounds of public safety or to make way for agriculture. There is still a considerable number that remain, however, some in very good condition.

The following links provide data and information services on World War Two defensive structures along with historic information of East Yorkshire during the conflict.

Archaeology Data Service

The Defence of Britain Project databases were created from field and documentary work carried out between April 1995 and December 2001. The purpose of the project was to record the 20th century militarised landscape of the United Kingdom, and to inform the responsible heritage agencies at both local and national level with a view to the future preservation of surviving structures. Link to ADS.

Yorkshire Pride

Yorkshire Pride provides information on the history of airfields in the East Riding of Yorkshire throughout the World War Two and Cold War. Link to Yorkshire Pride.

Please search under individual parishes for World War II historical sites.