Pillboxes (2 Viewers)

[aujj65]

In a previous thread I said I would take some photo's of the Pillboxes still around in the local area where I live in the SouthEast of England.

These particular ones are on the way to where I take my daughter horse riding on a Saturday morning.

As you approach the narrow bridge over a small stream the first one is in front of you at the top of the field. There is another one to the left at 2 o'clock(ish) the third and last is on the left hand side of the corner of the road as it bears round to the right.

Jeff

 

[aujj65]

This is the one on the corner of the road, a bit overgrown now but still intact.
The entrance door has a blast wall behind it to stop any bullets etc entering.

 

[jazzeum]

Jeff,

Thanks. Looks like you live in an idyllic area. I'm jealous.

 

[aujj65]

Close up of entrance and blast wall. These particular pillboxes are made from reinforced concrete and about 20 ft across, the wall thickness is quite considerable.

These types held about a section of rifles or a Bren gun.

I have some other photo's to follow.

Jeff

 

[aujj65]

Brad.

I live a couple of miles away in a country town, but the countryside down here is peacefull most of the time.

Jeff

 

[OzDigger]

Great pics Jeff

 

[Nick Nasta]

Wow Jeff!, I like those bunker/pillbox photos. I'd love to have grown up their. I would of had a field day playing army in and around those bunkers. Thanks for the pictures.
Nick

 

[kilted vampire]

I like pictures like that. Thank you for posting them. There is a fort on the coast in San Francisco, a coastal battery. Next time I go I will take some pictures and post. Hope I remember the camera

 

[aujj65]

Thanks glad you like them... I will be posting some more photos of different types of Pillbox later this evening.

Jeff

 

[aujj65]

This photo shows a brick built version with a large aperture for a small anti tank gun (2 or 6pdr?). What you cannot see is the nearby railway line where the goods yard is now a local builders yard, hence the bags of ballast on the roof.

 

[aujj65]

Next 3 photo’s show 3 different pillboxes situated near the above aforementioned railway line. They are positioned so as to give one another covering fire. I see these on a regular basis on my near weekly train journey to London. I reckon there must be as many as 8 in a 2 mile stretch.

 

[aujj65]

This one has been surrounded by pine trees since it was built, again this is within a stones throw of a important feature this time a cross roads, you can just see the signs in the background.

 

[Rob]

Here is a Home guard Spigot Mortar pit i found in a hedgerow in Brookmans park in deepest Hertfordshire.You can now see the Defence of Britain database on Google earth which makes it easy to find all sorts of defences.

Rob

 

[aujj65]

Rob,

This looks similar to the pit they researched on Time Team last year.

Jeff

 

[Rob]

Rob,

This looks similar to the pit they researched on Time Team last year.

Jeff

Funny,the guy i spoke to in the village said it was only unearthed last year so it could be the one?.

Am off to Luton Airport later, and if they don't shoot me for getting to near to the perimeter i hope to get some shots of the Pillbox there.

Rob

 

[aujj65]

Funny,the guy i spoke to in the village said it was only unearthed last year so it could be the one?.

Am off to Luton Airport later, and if they don't shoot me for getting to near to the perimeter i hope to get some shots of the Pillbox there.

Rob

Rob,

The TT one was near Shooters Hill. http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2008/south_london/south-found.html

Jeff

 

[Rob]

Thanks Jeff.

Heres a pillbox i found this afternoon that once guarded the road from Luton to London and now guards Luton Golf course.Its been battered by time,weather and Vandals but still stands guard on the Luton road in Bedfordshire.

Rob

 

[Capitolron]

I have a question ?

It looks like all these pillboxes are made from Red Bricks ? - Is that as strong as reinforced concrete the Germans used ?

 

[Rob]

Very good question Ron.I believe the majority were made of concrete.The brick version you see above were mainly built around airfields and possible landing grounds as they would it was thought face only lighter weapons carried by parachutists and glider troops.Therefore some of these pillboxes were only around 12inches thick.So the brick versions were designed to face MG's whereas the concrete versions you see on the coast and main roads were designed to take shells and could be up to four feet thick.

Rob

 

[Capitolron]

OK - Now I understand

I was just wondering if available resources had an effect on the decision - or if they were put together quickly since the Battle of Britain came on England pretty fast.

Interesting they still left all those Pillboxes up.

Great pictures - Rob - I feel like we are on a driving tour of England