Essex Artifacts


Chris Stewart-Moffitt has formed the

Military Fortifications Rescue, Research & Restoration Group

Covering the County of Essex, the Group has found some very unusual Defence Structures and approached the land owners of these sites in order to rescue them from decay. Where possible they are being restored to their former glory and protected for the future.

The Pillbox Study Group is extremely proud to be associated with the MF Group.  They are doing a fantastic job preserving our Military Architectural Heritage!

Below are the current Defence Structures receiving attention!

Submarine Minefield Control Tower

A three story concrete structure built to control a Submarine Minefield (Sea Mines rather than Land Mines) at the mouth of the River Crouch.

It is entered through a loop protected 10 millimetre steel door which gives access to an entrance porch and then to the main structure. The ground floor is well protected by 17 loops at ground and eye level which would have been protected by 10 millimetre hinged steel covers. We have found one example buried on site.

The Second Floor has an observation slit facing out to sea and covering the mouth of the river, approach channels and the river immediately adjacent. This would appear to be where the equipment was located.

There was also a Third Floor in the form of a suspended gallery within the second floor with 4 wide angle loops and another observation slit pointing in the same direction as the lower one.

This floor is currently missing.

To the East is a concrete hard-stand with a quantity of broken brick, concrete wall and roof sections. This was possibly for accommodation and power generation.

Single Periscope Pillbox

A concrete shell proof pillbox with Bren Gun loops and porch. The entrance is drained into a concrete tank, approximately 6 feet deep, which is situated a few feet away. There is also a water pipe running from the tank through the entrance to what looks like what may have been a Rotary Hand Pump on the centre wall.

All ‘Used Ammunition Hoppers’ facing into the prevailing weather (SSW) have a drainage pipe through the wall to keep them free of water.

Inside the pillbox the roof is pierced with two rectangular apertures, one each side of the internal wall, giving periscope access above roof level. On top of the roof the apertures are protected by a concrete cover on legs with steel plates between them. (Presumably to stop grenades being pitched into the holes!)

The countryside around the site is very flat and during WW2 the cereal crops would have had longer stems. Even now the crops come near to the loops and so presumably the periscope gave an uninterrupted vision and longer range over the top of the crops.

Triple Pillbox With Periscopes!

Front & Side Elevations Giving Idea Of Huge Size!

A Concrete Shell Proof Vickers Heavy Machine Gun and Anti-Aircraft Defensive Position.

Each Octagonal section has three Bren Gun loops, two Vickers HMG Tables and loops, an Internal Wall behind the tables and a Periscope aperture in the roof.

They are joined by a wide Gallery (Ammunition Storage Area?) which has a very wide angle loop protecting the front of the pillbox and the Vickers loops.

Elongated ‘Through Sea Wall’ Pillbox associated with Minefield Control Tower.

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It is directly opposite the Tower approximately 150ft across a drainage dyke (which was possibly not there during WW2). It has several features that indicate that it was once part of the Minefield defence.

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Seaward Side/Front elevation with close up of pipe!

Note the concrete protrusion on the angle of the wall. This houses a large salt glazed pipe the same size as the one found exiting the Tower. It looks as though it would originally have run down to the river but has been damaged by wave action and the building of the sea defences.

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Top of landward side of pillbox showing bolts once used to anchor a winch or similar equipment associated with the minefield defence.

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These bolts are at the same angle as others on the first floor of the Tower.

Internal view of the seaward half of the pillbox. Note the pipe coming through the angle of the wall to the right of the photo.

Internal Corner Sea Wall Pillbox

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Front Elevation of Internal Corner Concrete Sea Wall Pillbox showing entrance.

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Top of pillbox showing rough surface with marks where it appears `angle iron` had been set into the concrete. This was possibly for additional barbed wire defences.

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Left: Entrance into side of pillbox from small external porch.

The `External Sea Wall Pillbox` has a similar entrance except it is located at the back of the structure rather than the side.

Right: Centre dividing internal wall.

External Corner Sea Wall Pillbox

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Side elevation showing entrance.

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The top originally seemed to have ‘angle iron’ concreted on to it probably for additional barbed wire defences. The Sea wall has been raised approximately 4 feet since the PB’s were built.

Front Elevation.

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Photographs showing the internal layout with a single dividing wall. One half of the interior has had its ‘Loops’ blocked as part of the sea defences.  However, the engineers obviously under estimated the ability of the sea to reopen them! Hence all the sea borne rubbish and water.

Through Sea Wall Pillbox

 Special Type 22 Pillbox with AA Well

A Type 22 Shell Proof Pillbox with four Bren Gun Loops, two other unusual loops and a Protected Porch.

 Type 22 Pillbox With AA Well

Type 22 Anti-Aircraft Pillbox.

Shell-proof with Bren Gun Loops and protective entrance porch. The entrance is drained into a tank a few feet away, which is common for Pillboxes in this area. There is also a water pipe coming from the tank through the entrance to what appears to have been a rotary hand pump located on one internal wall. All ‘used ammunition hoppers’ in loops are drained through walls to outside.

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