A few days in Norfolk last week, not really a pillbox hunting trip but did manage to visit a few sites including Heacham and Hunstanton.
Many exits from the beaches on the north Norfolk Coast were planned to be covered by anti-tank guns mounted in pillboxes. Type 28's can be found at Holme, Brancaster and Weybourne for example. This post looks at two covering one of the beach exits at Heacham.
A bridge crossing a ditch at Heacham south beach is covered by a Type 28 and Type 28a, with a spigot mortar also added. The bridge itself has anti-tank blocks to allow a rail barrier to be put in place. The Type 28 is used today as a storage shed and has a locked door and embrasures blocked. The Type 28a is unusual in that it has been modified so that there are separate entrances to the anti-tank gun chamber and infantry chamber.
Also included in this post is the Heacham Coast Guard lookout constructed pre First War but undoubtedly used as a lookout / observation post during the Second War. By its side is a small brick built naval type pillbox.
Image 1: View of the two pillboxes and bridge, south beach exit at Heacham
Image 2: Type 28 with Type 28a in the background.
Image 3: Type 28 with spigot mortar
Image 4: Type 28a. These differ from Type 28's by the addition of an infantry chamber with two embrasures for light machine guns.
Image 5: Interior of infantry chamber, Type 28a with the two lmg embrasures.
Image 6: Rear of Type 28a showing the modified design with separate entrances for the anti-tank gun chamber and infantry chamber.
Image 7: Wide embrasure for the two pounder anti-tank gun.
Image 8: One of the anti-tank blocks on the bridge, overlooked by the Type 28a pillbox.
Image 9: Bridge with anti-tank blocks.
Image 10 and 11: Coast Guard lookout and naval type pillbox, Hunstanton.
acham and Hunstanton.
Many exits from the beaches on the north Norfolk Coast were planned to be covered by anti-tank guns mounted in pillboxes. Type 28's can be found at Holme, Brancaster and Weybourne for example. This post looks at two covering one of the beach exits at Heacham.
A bridge crossing a ditch at Heacham south beach is covered by a Type 28 and Type 28a, with a spigot mortar also added. The bridge itself has anti-tank blocks to allow a rail barrier to be put in place. The Type 28 is used today as a storage shed and has a locked door and embrasures blocked. The Type 28a is unusual in that it has been modified so that there are separate entrances to the anti-tank gun chamber and infantry chamber.
Also included in this post is the Heacham Coast Guard lookout constructed pre First War but undoubtedly used as a lookout / observation post during the Second War. By its side is a small brick built naval type pillbox.
Image 1: View of the two pillboxes and bridge, south beach exit at Heacham
Image 2: Type 28 with Type 28a in the background.
Image 3: Type 28 with spigot mortar
Image 4: Type 28a. These differ from Type 28's by the addition of an infantry chamber with two embrasures for light machine guns.
Image 5: Interior of infantry chamber, Type 28a with the two lmg embrasures.
Image 6: Rear of Type 28a showing the modified design with separate entrances for the anti-tank gun chamber and infantry chamber.
Image 7: Wide embrasure for the two pounder anti-tank gun.
Image 8: One of the anti-tank blocks on the bridge, overlooked by the Type 28a pillbox.
Image 9: Bridge with anti-tank blocks.
Image 10 and 11: Coast Guard lookout and naval type pillbox, Hunstanton.
acham and Hunstanton.
