BEAULIEU `CAMOUFLAGED` PILLBOXES

BEAULIEU

NEW FOREST

HAMPSHIRE

by

TIM DENTON

Many people will recognise this unusual building as one that features on the cover of Henry Wills "Pillboxes" book.

The camouflaged pillbox Sits in the garden of the Mill House and covers the bridge over the River Beaulieu in Hampshire, before it was converted it was used as a dairy house to store milk and make butter.

The ancient "listed building" has a distinctive tiled roof supported around the edges by wooden posts.

The house was constructed octagonal and built with red brick; internally it was adapted into a fortified position and features three concrete loopholes.

Each embrasure sits immediately behind the original lead light windows, a section of glass is conveniently removed in front of every loophole.

To give the occupants protection from attack the wall thickness was increased, this reduced the interior to a small confined square with firing positions in line with the entrance as well as one on each side.

A concrete roof was formed internally by wood shuttering; this was built to about a foot thick.

The entrance was reduced in height but has since been returned to its original build, the doorway was originally protected with a low blast wall.

I was kindly given access and information on this defence by the proprietor. He also showed me a loophole that is hidden away in the courtyard of the Mill. This would have covered the road and bridge and faces south down the street.

A further defended building can be seen opposite the Mill House with loopholes in both sides and an unusual rectangular pillbox with double embrasures can be found adjacent to a footpath leading from the road.

Copyright Graham G Matthews@PSG2010