Public access has not been confirmed. The historical record does not give permission to enter, cross private land or open hatches.
Read the information we checked ↗ · checked 2026-09-13
Use public paths and visitor areas. Do not enter unstaffed tunnels, shafts, railway land or restricted property.
Advice before you visitInformation checked 2026-09-13. We checked published records and visitor information. No site visit or direct confirmation from the operator.
The story of this place
The temporary decoy was established after the April 1942 raid on York. Historic England records it as operational from 15 May, with forty fire baskets arranged to imitate a burning target.
The source describes test lighting but no known lighting during an attack. We cannot therefore say that the decoy diverted a particular raid or saved a known number of lives. Its intended purpose and its demonstrated results are different questions.
- Historic England — World War II bombing decoy 500m east of Bland's Plantation ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
What you can see
The monument’s description includes seven firebreak enclosures, with earthworks and buried remains rather than a surviving display of equipment. The control building is recorded as demolished and lies outside the protected monument.
The record also describes wet ground as part of the wartime setting. We have not checked present ground conditions or established a public route across the site. Use the linked history to learn about the decoy; do not treat the map point as permission to walk over the remains.
- Historic England — World War II bombing decoy 500m east of Bland's Plantation ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
What we still need to check
The source describes the remains at the time they were recorded. We have not checked their present condition, ownership or visitor arrangements.
Sources for the visiting information
- Historic England — World War II bombing decoy 500m east of Bland's Plantation ↗ · reviewed 2026-09-13
About the original record
This place is recorded by Historic England / Planning Data. The details below include the original description of its building or site type.
Place details
- Category
- WWII defences
- Building or site type (original wording)
- World War II bombing decoy 500m east of Bland's Plantation
- Period or date
- Temporary Starfish decoy, 1942
- Current condition
- Not checked in person
- Heritage protection
- Scheduled monument
- Date protection was granted
- 2002-03-07
- Nearby town
- York (approximate)
- County named in the original record
- Not supplied
- Current county or council area
- York
- Nation
- England
- Original record number
- 1020404
- Coordinates
- 53.91975, -1.032084 (reference point, not an entrance)
- Heritage data checked
- 2026-09-13
- Source last updated
- 2026-08-28
- Visitor information checked
- 2026-09-13
We checked the downloaded heritage record on 2026-09-13. We have not visited or inspected the site. The map point may refer to a whole site, one structure or a location where little remains.