The continuation of the Kennet

night crawler said:

Think I have seen some before now
Stearling work there sennelager though I feel mooching around in the dark is going a bit far. Looks like you could be returning for a couple if like me you can't let it alone, you know it is there but you have to see it.

Drop me a PM if you heading up to Devizes we could meed for a mooch.

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sennelager66 said:

Agreed with that. Next time I shall be in the area at the crack of dawn. Too much can easily be missed. The amount of times in daylight I have walked past something, let alone at dusk.

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Will do guys.

Sen - crack of dawn what are you like!

That can be arranged.

More excellent remains there Senn. Big bonus seeing the disused railway...did you have time to explore it further?
Looks like a good afternoon's work.

I might ask the landowner on Monday for a mooch. The other side of the road is where I need to get to the cylinders and PB.

On the Kennet

I agree with OldScrote about the pictures of rails being signposts (there are many of them all the way along the Canal) and having done this stretch of the Blue Line along the Kennet & Avon canal the only rails from a roadblock that are in situ are those at Benham Bridge. Some of the other rails which can be seen have been used as posts for wire around fields (again many examples) and these are drilled and bolted/welded together.

Have fun!
Skoyen89

I decided to get back on it for two days over Monday and Tuesday. Both days totally different in extremes of weather with Monday being cold. misty and grey. Tuesday broke out into a wonderous day which made for some excellent photo opportunities. Parking up alongside the AT blocks i made the decision to revisit the site in actual daylight, take some secateurs and investigate more thoroughly.

ANTI TANK BLOCK: S0006509
In the woods near Stibbs Green and Burbage Wharf.
EDOBID: 8525












Cutting away some of the ivy to show the notches on all four corners.





PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008764
Leigh Hill Copse
EDOBID: 3898

Parking up on the A346 and cutting back through the woods this type 22 has a covering field of fire over the rail lines to the south. Sat right on the edge of the wood line.

The walk in the woods was fantastic.













PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008763
Noyes Farm, Wootton Rivers.
EDOBID: 7876

Not too easy to get to and it involved cutting over a back fence to the Church Of St Andrews, cutting across a few fences, over a gate and hoping and praying i wasn't spotted by persons living in the property overlooking the site of the PB. My luck held out. Situated high in the field and overlooking the Kennet, this twin type would have had a commanding field of fire.











An internal shot of the angled embrasure. The first one i have seen.





PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0013484
Pewsey Road and George Lane
EDOBID: 4174
Sat on the south eastern side of Pewsey Road bridge, this 22 is completely covered on the road side. Gettting over two fences and the PB is more exposed. The roadside entrance still has the concrete path leading up to it.

The view from roadside.







Sat on the fence i found two AT cylinders in th glooom.







The last evidence of a roadblock. North of Pewsey Bridge.
ROADBLOCK: S0008760





On the south bank of the Kennet and just past Pewsey Wharf.
ANTI TANK PIMPLE: S0008758
EDOBID: 9306
Four AT pimples located in a well tended clearing on the bank.







PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008754
EDOBID: 3893
Sat on the North Bank of the Kennet and located on the fence line.













Staying overnight in the car and the start of a new day. Out for a walk along the tow path at 07.30hr. By the time i reached the first PB the light was just coming up.


PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008762
Sunnyhill Farm, on N bank of Kennet
EDOBID: 3897
A really muddy walk alone the tow path and over the footbridge into the field. Skirting the edge of the field i finally reached the PB. Who says we're nuts!











Walking through the back of the car park to The French Horn in Pewsey i eventually worked out how to get to the two PB's on the Northwestern bank of the Kennet.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008753
EDOBID: 3892









PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008752
EDOBID: 3891
East of Bristow Bridge and in really poor condition.







PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008750
EDOBID: 3889
Stowell Park, on N bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, Wilcot.

As a point of interest - the images for the type 22 on the DoB layer on the south bank of the Kennet, are actually this PB. Hunting high and low for the other PB i could not locate it.











Very heavily frost damaged.







PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0008749
EDOBID: 5602
Again very heavily frost damaged and quite well concealed. This involved a hop over the fencing in a gap in the hedge and missing the cow pats.











ANTI TANK CYLINDER: S0008745
On W side of Honeystreet Bridge, Honeystreet - Kennet and Avon Canal, Stanton St. Bernard.
EDOBID: 9019







Random points of interest to me:











PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0007920
On North bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, facing the Barge Inn, Honeystreet.
EDOBID: 3801
Taking a walk down the private access road and along the North Bank. Sat in the rear of a garden.



A cheeky photo just inside the driveway.





PILLBOX (PENTAGON): S0008743
In field E of Stanton Bridge near Alton Barnes airfield, Stanton St. Bernard.
EDOBID: 2973
The first of three PB's on the North bank of the Kennet. Two sat into the field and one on the bank.









The rear entrance on the North.







The internal view of the south facing entrance. To the left is a small alcove which leads to nowhere. Possibly a storage area. This is not duplicated on the north side.



Concrete sandbags.




The view from inside the alcove.







The parting shot.



PILLBOX: S0011718
EDOBID: 2224
The Dob states unclassified and not visited but this looks like a 22 shell proof.





Internally very tidy.



PILLBOX (PENTAGON): S0008742
EDOBID: 2972













From one PB to another.





Doubling back on myself - this time on the South bank of the Kennet heading East.
An excellent collection of a PB, rails and cylinders all on the same bridge!

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL: S0008746
EDOBID: 9408


A right cesspit of a bridge. No easy way to get to the top other than scramble up the side and pray i never ended up in the Kennet. Mud, sludge, slurry and cow pats everywhere!! Fun times.







ANTI TANK CYLINDER: S0011720
Unclassified road on W side of Alton Valley Bridge, Honeystreet - Kennet and Avon Canal, Stanton St. Bernard
EDOBID: 9082











PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008747
EDOBID: 3888













And finally.......................knackered by 15.00hr but a great two days out.

ANTI TANK CYLINDER: S0008748
Woodborough Fields Bridge, Woodborough
EDOBID: 9020











Very pic heavy and apologies for this but two days of bliss out there.

You really have taken this serious, some great information there. Tell me do you work as I don't get that much time to get out.

Yes i do work. Days off are pre planned and prepped so i can get an early start out there. Luckily i have a four on/ four off pattern when i chose not to take the overtime.


Out cycling today in Swinley Woods near Crowthorne i found 5 AT cylinders in 2 different locations in total. Not on the DoB layer i use (it might be out of date), But i shall post that up later. Camera always on me thankfully, and so much for a day off spotting.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's SuperSenn, I can't keep up with you and I'm just following you from my desk with Google earth. I'm glad you got to the Pentagons at Alton Barnes, they are vanishingly rare and a real treat.

I suffer the aches and pains the next day.

You should get a medal for this epic.I think you are mad-- brilliant but mad{sleeping in the car at this time of year]Thanks for sharing your adventures.

I just love it. Also sleeping in a car with food, drink isn't such a hardship. I've slept in worse places.

Superb stuff mate Crazy man though

sennelager66 said:

Is it wrong of me to spend the weekend with some good mates and still be PB hunting from the car as we drive along

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Ah! It's a problem....I have had a few nasty moments driving 'cos I am looking at some likely place and not the road. The last time it happened the missus took umbrage and wanted to drive. Dereliction isn't worth that!

It's a damned infliction. I blame this site for encouraging that.