THE Morecambe Bay coastline has played a long and important role in defending the North West from attack by sea or air.

Places like Morecambe, Sunderland Point, Flookburgh and Walney had key roles in both world wars.

A look at the varied and often overgrown military heritage of Morecambe Bay from 1914 to 1945 is provided in a talk by Dr Sam Edwards and Dr Ben Edwards from the Department of History at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The presentation is at Lancaster Library, in Market Square, Lancaster, from 2pm, on Saturday, May 6.

It is part of the programme of events organized by the Morecambe Bay Partnership and tickets cost £2.50 and can be booked by following the link from: www.morecambebay.org.uk/events.

You can also ring 01539 734888 or send an email to info@morecambebay.org.uk

The talk will explore the intriguing military landscape and historic sites around Morecambe Bay.

Places like Sunderland Point, at the mouth of the River Lune, near Lancaster, provided the outer defence line for Barrow from aerial attack in the Second World War.

Rifle training could be undertaken on a range near Humphrey Head, Grange and aircrews were taught new skills at RAF Cark.

Much of the military construction projects on Walney up to the 1940s are little known or understood.

There had been a rifle range and training area for part-time soldiers in the Victorian era. Coastal defence grew in importance when Vickers started building warships in 1897 and a start was made on airship work in 1908, he said.

Work began on building a coastal artillery fort – on the Furness Golf Club site – in 1910.

In 1914 another naval battery was built at Hilpsford on the southern tip of the island to guard the entrance to Barrow during the First World War.

The Hilpford battery was of naval guns – possibly French in origin – which were fixed on concrete bases and supported by two search lights in concrete emplacements.

When the guns were removed after the war, it was clear the artillery might return one day and re-use the gun mounts as the nuts were put back on the bolts.

The battery on south Walney also had a pair of ammunition stores served by a brick-lined trench.

In the Second World War, the island got seven heavy anti-aircraft batteries to help protect Vickers.

In 1940 construction started on Walney airfield and it was given a defensive ring of military strong points.

After the Battle of Britain there was much less risk of invasion and Walney was used to train pilots and air gunners.

In 1943 the island’s anti-aircraft guns were stripped out and sent to help in the North Africa Campaign.

The former RAF airfield was sold to Vickers in 1959.