Discovered the best concentration of pillboxes in a small area I have seen with two Type 24s and four Vickers boxes all within an area the size of a football pitch. They are on the military training area at Beacon Hill, west of Aldershot and the area is open to the public as long as you observe the rules etc and are sensible about finding stuff. Unfortunately all are sealed and in use as bat boxes.
In addition I discovered a line of six pillboxes (are there more?) and a couple of others that are not on the DOB database. The DOB database entries for this section are not complete and the locations are often, but not always wrong.
In the DOB as #9843, correct position opposite the entrance to Beacon Hill Pit:
[
Beacon Hill Pit #1 389 by skoyen89, on FlickrMore photos of details, internals etc in my Flickr account.
9844 just up the road and on a bank overlooking the road:
Beacon Hill Pit #2 426 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill Pit #2 422 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Not in the DOB and on the crest of the hill virtually opposite #9844
Beacon Hill Pit #3 432 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill Pit #3 436 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill Pit #3 457 by skoyen89, on Flickr
behind the previous one in the woods - not on the DOB:
Beacon Hill Pit #4 475 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Shelter on Beacon Hill. Not on DOB and not far from a couple of the pill boxes.
Beacon Hill Shelter 499 by skoyen89, on Flickr
The first of a series of seven pillboxes in a small area defending a ridge againast attack from the south-east. This is a Type 24 and I think is #11095 on DOB:
Beacon Hill #1 488 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Next a Vickers Box and a Type 24 back to back:
Beacon Hill #2 502 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #3 510 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Then three Vickers boxes in a line with about twenty yards between each. All are sealed off:
Beacon Hill #4 513 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #5 516 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #6 524 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #6 526 by skoyen89, on Flickr
I think that the T24 and the four Vickers boxes are 7831 to 7834 but they are in the wrong place. The details on the internet version of the database are too vague to be clear and things likes steps down and appertures have been filled in. It is possible to see into a couple of them and in one the Vickers table can be seen.
And the last in this grouping which is a liittle further along and I think is #7836. This is in the right place and has three embrasures as it is set into the hill, firing south-east and down the steep hill. It has been converted to a bat box and hence the inside is in good condition. I love the wallpaper they have used!
Beacon Hill #7 535 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #7 528 by skoyen89, on Flickr
I had looked at this group a few times on Google Earth and as I couldn't see photos of them already on the internet it was a good target for a day out. Also visited some of the boxes in Ewshot village but Sennelager has already posted pictures of those. Detail and interior shots are in my Flickr account.
In addition I discovered a line of six pillboxes (are there more?) and a couple of others that are not on the DOB database. The DOB database entries for this section are not complete and the locations are often, but not always wrong.
In the DOB as #9843, correct position opposite the entrance to Beacon Hill Pit:
[
Beacon Hill Pit #1 389 by skoyen89, on FlickrMore photos of details, internals etc in my Flickr account.
9844 just up the road and on a bank overlooking the road:
Beacon Hill Pit #2 426 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill Pit #2 422 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Not in the DOB and on the crest of the hill virtually opposite #9844
Beacon Hill Pit #3 432 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill Pit #3 436 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill Pit #3 457 by skoyen89, on Flickr
behind the previous one in the woods - not on the DOB:
Beacon Hill Pit #4 475 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Shelter on Beacon Hill. Not on DOB and not far from a couple of the pill boxes.
Beacon Hill Shelter 499 by skoyen89, on Flickr
The first of a series of seven pillboxes in a small area defending a ridge againast attack from the south-east. This is a Type 24 and I think is #11095 on DOB:
Beacon Hill #1 488 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Next a Vickers Box and a Type 24 back to back:
Beacon Hill #2 502 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #3 510 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Then three Vickers boxes in a line with about twenty yards between each. All are sealed off:
Beacon Hill #4 513 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #5 516 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #6 524 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #6 526 by skoyen89, on Flickr
I think that the T24 and the four Vickers boxes are 7831 to 7834 but they are in the wrong place. The details on the internet version of the database are too vague to be clear and things likes steps down and appertures have been filled in. It is possible to see into a couple of them and in one the Vickers table can be seen.
And the last in this grouping which is a liittle further along and I think is #7836. This is in the right place and has three embrasures as it is set into the hill, firing south-east and down the steep hill. It has been converted to a bat box and hence the inside is in good condition. I love the wallpaper they have used!
Beacon Hill #7 535 by skoyen89, on Flickr
Beacon Hill #7 528 by skoyen89, on Flickr
I had looked at this group a few times on Google Earth and as I couldn't see photos of them already on the internet it was a good target for a day out. Also visited some of the boxes in Ewshot village but Sennelager has already posted pictures of those. Detail and interior shots are in my Flickr account.
Last edited:
