A wedding venue in the picturesque Cotswolds area of England was evacuated after workers unearthed five unexploded bombs dating back to World War II. The incident occurred on Monday, November 2, at the Great Tythe Barn, situated in Long Newnton near Tetbury. The discovery unfolded as construction teams were preparing the site for a new solar panel field.
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Gloucestershire Police were alerted to the situation early in the morning when construction workers made the alarming find. The authorities swiftly established a 200-metre cordon around the site to ensure public safety, as emergency services rushed to the scene. Police stated that residents and several nearby businesses had to be evacuated as a precautionary measure while experts from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) assessed the situation.
The Great Tythe Barn, which serves as a popular venue for weddings and events within a restored 17th-century barn, took to social media to inform patrons about the situation. In a post shared with their followers, they announced that the entire site had to be closed due to the discovery of the historical artefacts.
“After a discovery of some historical artefacts, our entire site is closed today,” the venue communicated to its audience. They later issued a statement recounting the moment five items believed to be unexploded World War II bombs were found. The management confirmed that they immediately contacted the police, who then cordoned off the area while bomb disposal professionals were dispatched to handle the situation safely.
Guests who had been staying at the venue following a wedding the previous weekend were promptly evacuated, ensuring their safety amid this unforeseen circumstance. An army representative later revealed that the discovered devices had been identified as German bombs by the EOD operator.
Local reports indicated that the bombs were successfully destroyed in a controlled detonation later that day. A video circulating on social media appeared to capture the moment of the detonation, providing a dramatic conclusion to the operation.
The harrowing discovery was made by two workers involved in the solar field project: head gardener Kevin Roberts and subcontractor John Blundell. Roberts provided a vivid account of the incident, explaining how they were digging a trench when they stumbled upon the explosives. “Within a couple of minutes, we uncovered five mortars, which we believed were live,” Roberts recounted.
Blundell added, “Initially, we thought they were just broken bits of either a gas main or an old water main.” The realisation struck them after they managed to clear some mud off the objects, revealing their true nature. The presence of metal flight fins quickly confirmed their suspicions, prompting them to abandon their work and alert the authorities.
Images published by local news outlets showed the bombs lying exposed in the field, evoking the historical gravity of such findings in this serene landscape. While the immediate danger was averted, the incident serves as a reminder of the remnants of war that can still surface unexpectedly in certain parts of the UK.
As the area returned to normalcy post-evacuation, the Great Tythe Barn management praised the quick response of the police and bomb disposal experts, reinforcing their commitment to safety. The startling discovery has sparked discussions within the community about the potential for further unexploded ordnance to be present in similar historic sites.
This incident has reignited interest in the region’s wartime history, with many reflecting on the lasting impact of World War II on the Cotswolds and other tranquil areas across Britain. The event not only brought a sense of urgency and danger to a usually celebratory venue but also fostered discussions about the historical remnants that remain buried beneath the surface.