I know pillboxes ain't interesting to everyone, but I personally love these little lumps of concrete. And I hate always following the crowd and like to do my own thing anyway. This is how I started exploring by hunting out world war infrastructure. I spotted that people explore derelict buildings when researching stuff, and that they post them online, it then went from there really. But I still like to go out and photograph stuff like this. Pillboxes are hid up everywhere, in towns, villages, airfields, the coast, anywhere there could have been a threat of invasion. Normally on strategic points like railways, rivers and canals. They usually formed a defence line, with tank blocks, trenches, road blocks etc. First used mainly during the First World War when England realised that there was a severe threat of invasion. With the outbreak of the Second World War pillboxes were rapidly constructed with the threat of invasion a scary reality. There was several different types, from the average type twenty two to large machine gun emplacements. Local material was sourced to build them so although standard builds, they varied with materials from around the country. Twenty eight thousand were built during the war today about six to seven thousand survive. Farmers were paid a set amount to cover cost of removal. Often they pocketed the money and just left them. Now often walked past by people nowadays forgetting the important role these played in the defence of this country. Here a selection of some I have seen over the years.
First up is a pillbox and tank blocks on the river Bure, Aylsham in Norfolk. This was prob used to stop troops coming up the river. As their is a large house and mill near I would imagine that was part of the plan..
In Burnham Upon Crouch in Essex is this minefield control tower. I remember the walk which was over two hours each way. This control tower was used to guard the estuary to prevent the Germans landing at Burnham on the river crouch. It also acted as an observation tower. It has an impressive amount of gun apertures. It's one of only two, the other one is in Oban in Scotland.
A more modern variant of the pillbox. This is a cold war pillbox at RAF Coltishall. It seem to be made of pre cast concrete. There are several in the airfield, including one near the main gates.
A double levelled one near the old Beccles airfield.
On the Acle straight is two pillboxes either side of the road. These are of world war one origin and unlike most they were not round. These two still have the original metal shutters on them. These are located just before you enter Great Yarmouth.
To the far side of RAF Coltishall is this small site. It's the former original radar site that not many know about. The pill box is hidden up nearly. On the site sits a few buildings and lots of concrete lumps that were the mast plinths.
A pillbox hidden discreetly in the side of the house in Acle, Norfolk.
On the Essex coast near Bawsey is a world war one pillbox. A nice round one and hence why they got that name. Sitting behind is an observation tower..
A pillbox in Norfolk on the side of the road. This was used as defence of Little Snoring airfield.
A random one in a field near Thetford.
A mushroom pillbox at RAF Warboys in Cambridgeshire. These are quite a rare site now. This was based right near the BHQ right near the main runway..this pillbox would give you virtually a 360 degree field of view. And a rail which a gun would be mounted upon.
A rather tall pillbox at RAF Bodney in Norfolk. This one was located near the BHQ and tower.
A round pill pic from the first world war on the Norfolk coast.
Another rare pillbox in Earith, Cambridgeshire. An Allan-Williams turret built of steel. These are few and far between.
Another Allan-Williams turret at the north weald redoubt in Essex..
Continued..
First up is a pillbox and tank blocks on the river Bure, Aylsham in Norfolk. This was prob used to stop troops coming up the river. As their is a large house and mill near I would imagine that was part of the plan..
In Burnham Upon Crouch in Essex is this minefield control tower. I remember the walk which was over two hours each way. This control tower was used to guard the estuary to prevent the Germans landing at Burnham on the river crouch. It also acted as an observation tower. It has an impressive amount of gun apertures. It's one of only two, the other one is in Oban in Scotland.
A more modern variant of the pillbox. This is a cold war pillbox at RAF Coltishall. It seem to be made of pre cast concrete. There are several in the airfield, including one near the main gates.
A double levelled one near the old Beccles airfield.
On the Acle straight is two pillboxes either side of the road. These are of world war one origin and unlike most they were not round. These two still have the original metal shutters on them. These are located just before you enter Great Yarmouth.
To the far side of RAF Coltishall is this small site. It's the former original radar site that not many know about. The pill box is hidden up nearly. On the site sits a few buildings and lots of concrete lumps that were the mast plinths.
A pillbox hidden discreetly in the side of the house in Acle, Norfolk.
On the Essex coast near Bawsey is a world war one pillbox. A nice round one and hence why they got that name. Sitting behind is an observation tower..
A pillbox in Norfolk on the side of the road. This was used as defence of Little Snoring airfield.
A random one in a field near Thetford.
A mushroom pillbox at RAF Warboys in Cambridgeshire. These are quite a rare site now. This was based right near the BHQ right near the main runway..this pillbox would give you virtually a 360 degree field of view. And a rail which a gun would be mounted upon.
A rather tall pillbox at RAF Bodney in Norfolk. This one was located near the BHQ and tower.
A round pill pic from the first world war on the Norfolk coast.
Another rare pillbox in Earith, Cambridgeshire. An Allan-Williams turret built of steel. These are few and far between.
Another Allan-Williams turret at the north weald redoubt in Essex..
Continued..
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