© Lorem ipsum dolor 2010 Made with Xara Croft Village Cheshire 2nd World War: The outbreak of the Second World War brought about tremendous change in the life of its residents:     * The peaceful village was transformed, virtually overnight, by the construction of the Royal Ordnance Factory at       Risley. Roads which had previously seen very little motorised traffic, became virtually impassable, as lorries, buses,       and cyclists made their way through the village on a daily basis.     * Familiar landmarks such as signposts were removed, so as not to give directions to the enemy.     * Place names were painted out of business premises and from the sides of commercial vehicles.     * Street lights were blacked-out except for a couple of small slits.     * Lights on car, bicycles, businesses, and homes could not be visible from the air.     * Air Raid Wardens- enforced these restrictions vigorously.     * An Anti-Aircraft Unit was based on the field upon which now stand Croft Primary School.     * Communal Air Raid Shelters were built in various parts of the village. One being in the School Meadow, for use by        the shool in the daytime, and by residents at night. Althought bombs were dropped at Culcheth and Myddleton, no          bombs were dropped on Croft, which is somewhat surprising, given its close proximity to such prime targets as the        Munitions Factory - at Risley, the Airfield -at Burtonwood, and the Vulcan Foundry -which was then producing tanks        and not locomotives.     * HMS Gosling, a naval training camp, was established on New Lane, and later became a holding camp for refugees       from Malta. HMS Gosling 3 was also situated in Spring Lane. Reflectors were placed in the Church Fields, to the       horror of locals, to attract enemy bombers away from the Risley Munitions factory. A fighter plane was brought down       in the sandfields behind (Croft Nursery). Return to Home Page Return to Home Page