WW2 Pillboxes UK

Wishmaster · Feb 5, 2008

This from Bishop is like nothing I have seen before when it comes to a Pillbox

And this one is awesome, was it actually gaurding the drain or is that just a coinsidence?

krela · Feb 5, 2008

Wishmaster said:
This from Bishop is like nothing I have seen before when it comes to a Pillbox

That's because technically it's not a pillbox it's a fire watchman's lookout. For some lucky ARP to sit in and watch for incendiary fires during air raids. It's situated in Bristol docks and would have been surrounded by bonded warehouses in the 1940s.

Not a job I would volunteer for lol

Neosea · Feb 24, 2008

Thornwick Bay, Flamborough Head

[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/412847c0be0001f6e.jpg]

[/lb]

Reighton Sands

[lb=http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/412847c0bf82202f8.jpg]

[/lb]

King Al · Feb 25, 2008

thats an intersting one, Nice find

smileysal · Feb 25, 2008

Dam, never seen the one at Flamborough head, or the one at Reighton Sands, and used to go up there every year.

Cheers,

Sal

graybags · Feb 25, 2008

A curious video, but may be useful to some

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt_wUxr7iWE[/ame]

P can't find anymore info on this Wish

A curiosity

G

:

Neosea · Feb 25, 2008

smileysal said:
Dam, never seen the one at Flamborough head, or the one at Reighton Sands, and used to go up there every year.

Cheers,

Sal

The entrance is blocked with sand and dirt. Inside it is full of garbage.

Its easy to see on flash earth

And the fishing is good at Thornwick Bay

Bishop · Mar 24, 2008

Krela wrote.

That's because technically it's not a pillbox it's a fire watchman's lookout. For some lucky ARP to sit in and watch for incendiary fires during air raids. It's situated in Bristol docks and would have been surrounded by bonded warehouses in the 1940s.

You reckon? I always thought it was a pillbox myself. According to the Defence of Britain database its a FW3/26 pillbox though I admit DoB can be wrong at times. Personally I always assumed it was built to defend either one of the two swing bridges in the area, information on Fire Watchers posts is rather hard to find but I've always thought they were primarily small one man posts that look somewhat similar to the protected observation points on the top of a lot of WW2 airfield control towers.

Observation point on the control tower at RAF Charmy Down.

Bristol Fire Watchers Post on the corner of Hanover Place and Sydney Row, Bristol Docks.

Fire watchers post on a factory in Bolton.
http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/boltonfirewatcherspost.htm

Perhaps the pillbox was a HQ for Fire Watchers? It would make sense that a bigger structure would be needed for more staff and communications equipment.

B

krela · Mar 24, 2008

I can understand why people might think its a pillbox but I don't buy it myself.

For bridge defence it's facing in the wrong direction, the embrasures are all in the wrong places to defend anything useful and the line of fire is terrible with the roof line in the way etc. It's also far too small to have any depth to the walls making it useless for protection.

I guess it *could* be defending the dock sluices directly underneath it but even that doesn't make a huge amount of sense as again the line of fire would be terrible.

Perhaps it isn't a fire watchers post, but I don't think it's a pillbox either.

Bishop · Mar 24, 2008

Looks like you're right Krela.

Identical building on the roof of one of the now demolished warehouses at Canons Marsh, Bristol docks. They must be Fire Watchers Posts, very similar in appearance to a FW3/26 pillbox though.

B

Mr Sam · Mar 24, 2008

great idea to start this funnily enough i nipped in one today

Ashwell in Rutland

Mr Sam · Mar 24, 2008

Lightbuoy said:
WW2 defences at Chappel Viaduct, Essex. (LAST LOT!)

Finally, here is what I would call a gun mount base (but am probably way out!)

theres an identiacal one in the next village to me your right its a gun mount the plaque next to the one here says it was for the home guard, ill grap a shot next time i pss

Goldie87 · Mar 25, 2008

^Its a spigot mortar mount

Type 22 pillbox near Ashfordby, Leicestershire...

Sorry about the crap photos, was just passing by and stopped quickly

The Duke · Mar 27, 2008

There's a couple of interesting ones in Somerset. At Porlock Weir the pillbox sits on top of the pebble beach and the outer walls are covered in pebbles to blend in with area. Cunning eh! Also on the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal there is pillbox that has been cut in half to make way for the cycle path. This is probably the open plan version!

Bishop · Mar 27, 2008

Hey Duke. You ain't wrong theres some good stuff in Somerset if you're interested in pillboxes, Krela and myself did the whole of the Taunton Stop Line last year and a lot of it is in pretty decent nick, it really is astonishing how much remains.

b

graybags · Apr 14, 2008

Visited yesterday morning, part of the Taunton stop line

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51.024305&lon=-3.135402&z=19.9&r=0&src=msl

[lb='http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/186348028fcbf1cf5.jpg']

[/lb]

G

Foxylady · Apr 14, 2008

graybags said:
Visited yesterday morning, part of the Taunton stop line

Excellent. Are you planning on doing more, GB? I'm still filling in the gaps of my exploration of the Axe Valley end. Found some more recently that I've been looking for for some time and will be getting photos of them later on this week.

krela · Apr 15, 2008

graybags said:
Visited yesterday morning, part of the Taunton stop line

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51.024305&lon=-3.135402&z=19.9&r=0&src=msl

[lb='http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/imagehosting/186348028fcbf1cf5.jpg']

[/lb]

G

I'm afraid that's not part of the taunton stopline, it's probably a civil defence pillbox built to protect the west side of taunton, or it may be linked to the Norton Fitzwaren supply depot (although it's a different design to the others built there).

Maniac · Apr 19, 2008

I'm not 100% sure if this is a pilbox, or another type of defence post. It's on land to the back of Snowdown Colliery in Kent, and is very near the railway.

It's totally filled in thou.

Anyone know what it is for sure, and if it is a pilbox, what type it is as I can't figure it out from the descriptions and photos of the different types I've seen.

District12 · Apr 19, 2008

Hey all,

I think the identification of pillboxes can be quite tricky which may lead to some confusion. Many concrete structures in the landscape may appear to be similar to the standard (type 22 or Vickers) pillbox design, these may have loopholes which seem a likely candidate. To really consider a relic as a true pillbox you should refer to the width of the perimiter wall.
If it looks like it could actually see combat it may be part of the defensive line.

Many pillboxes will only be situated in relation to:

Railway lines
Canal routes
Road systems and junctions
Sensitive sites
Airfields
Strategic towns
Rivers

Incidently, A selection of pillboxes (inculding a unique telephone exchange site is featured here: http://district12.fotopic.net/c1475674.html

WW2 Pillboxes UK

Help Support Derelict Places:

Well-known member

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Regal Moderator

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Well-known member

Veteran Member

Member

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!