Hale Air Raid Siren

In 1938, the United Kingdom’s government was anticipating the outbreak of hostilities with Germany and decided to begin preparing the general population for war. One of those preparatory steps was creating an air raid warning system across the United Kingdom that included a series of electrical sirens either mounted on public buildings or freestanding poles.

This system was in use throughout World War II. Afterward, with the start of the Cold War, the sirens were kept in place to provide warnings in case of a nuclear attack. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, however, the sirens were seen as unnecessary and the network was largely dismantled.

Air raid sirens found in the U.K. today are extremely rare. One of the last remaining sirens stands in a residential area near the train tracks in the suburban area of Hale. The pole-mounted siren has been in place since its construction in 1938 and even retains much of its original electrical gear.

Local historian George Cogswell, who had been evacuated from London during World War II as a child, recognized the historical significance of the air raid siren and campaigned to protect it. In 2022, the Hale Air Raid Siren was given Grade II listed status by Historic England. This surviving artifact of World War II will continue to stand sentry in suburban Hale for future generations to see.