WW2 Recovered V2 Rocket Venturi

This V2 Rocket venturi (engine) was recovered from Sugden Avenue, Wickford, in August 1984, when waterboard workers were clearing the site. The venturi lay buried shallow beside a fence on rough ground which Mr.Myers was having cleared with the aim of having a new property built. This item is usually all you ever find after a rocket attack. Made of a very heavy gauge steel, they are a large imposing reminder of the destruction they caused.

Unfortunately these pictures are not of the normal quality, due to the fact that there was no press called at the time, but they did get wind of it and called round to borrow my pics, which they then promptly lost and I only got them back when I exploded at them. Then when the papers came out they had only printed the story because they had at the time lost my pictures. The black and white I shot on 35mm, the colour on a poor quality instamatic. But they’re still a record of the event.

Editors’ note.  Wickford Community Archive strive not to loose original photos as we cannot store them. You can visit our drop-in mornings at Wickford Library where we will scan photographs and documents while you wait, and you can take them away. 

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Mr Myers on whose land the venturi was found.
Trevor Williams
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Brian Sadler(L) and Roger Pickett of Coal House Fort who took the venturi for their museum
Trevor Williams
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It was a dream to keep this piece of history in Wickford but living with my parents at the time I had no where to keep it. Mum and dad have always been understanding with my obsession for preserving Wickford's past but it didn't stretch to half a ton of Rocket Motor. By the way, we might look incredibly strong, but that venturi is held by a steel hauser. Sugden Avenue 1984.
Trevor Williams
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My father, Alfred A. Williams, who remembers the incident so vividly.
T.A. Williams collection
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Trevor Williams
T.A. Williams collection
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Rocket venturi which impacted on Sugden Avenue in 1944. My dad remembers this incident very well. He recounted to me that old Ted White from Station Approach was standing in the doorway of the public bar, in the Castle, Wickford Broadway, his feet were hanging over the doorstep, and a red hot lump of debris cut the front of his foot off. Other eye witnesses stated that when the rocket impacted you could see what looked like a silver cloud coming towards Wickford from the impact site. This was of course the debris field. A V2 was known to be able to flatten one square mile.
Trevor Williams
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Trevor Williams
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As it is now at Coal House Fort
Trevor Williams
Author
By Trevor Williams
Page added:
03/04/2014

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  • I remember a V2 falling just past the bridge (Southend line, on Dollimans Farm) by the side of a pond. Between the pond and the two bridges lay the venturi.

    By Kenneth saward (30/01/2019)

  • I remember seeing this part of the V2 lying on the grass verge next to Bromfords Farm in Nevendon Road.

    By Arthur Cox (13/10/2014)

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