I am a member of “The Coast Defense Study Group” in the USA and a resident of the Island of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. I am curious as to whether or not your group has come across any cast-metal turreted pillboxes in the U.K. in conjunction with defenses of […]
Daily Archives: 8th March 2015
139 posts
I have included several photos of pillbox types found on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii. It is a WW2 mass-produced variant built of reinforced concrete and built either at Army engineer base yards, then transported to the site, or poured in place on site depending on the location. It includes […]
Pillbox on Skeppsholmen Island, Stokholm, Sweden By Ian Sanders
My brother was on holiday in South Africa during April 2004 and photographed this pillbox which appears to be based on a type 22 design. The pillbox is located near the entrance to Durban Dockyard. A local resident believes the pillbox will be demolished in the near future as part […]
Altea Pillboxes, Altea, Valencia, Spain There are two well preserved – but frustratingly unrecorded – pillboxes and one ruined one about 2km North of the town of Altea, (Valencia Region), in the area known as Cap Negret. The design of the two survivors is as good as, or maybe better than, […]
In 1942 the Italians had surrounded the city with a Ring of Wire, later they fortified the road junctions with pillboxes and roadblocks. Almost all the defences had been removed just one or two pillboxes remain. The Ring of Wire is protected as a National Park it is in fact […]
Norwegian Pillboxes at the foot of the Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo. by Ian Sanders
Porto Paglia, South Sardinia A Pillbox Restoration joint venture between A.S.S.Fort Sardinia and “L’Orizzonte” The War 1940-43 And The Coastal Defences In South-West Sardinia. Portopaglia is a well preserved landscape in south-west Sardinia. The location is under the Municipality of Gonnesa. The now restored concrete positions are overlooking the beautiful beach […]
The following information was kindly e-mailed to the PSG by Daniele Grioni in Lombardia (Northern Italy). A Coastal Pillbox for a heavy machine-gun (Type Breda 37) at Capitana ( uartu Sant’Elena) . The stronghold “Domus de Maria” found along the road between Domus de Maria and Teuleda in southern Sardinia. It […]
Association For Historical Studies & Fortifications In Sardinia During summer 2001 a new study group called “A.S.S. Fort Sardegna” has been created in Cagliari. It is a cultural association which aims are to promote, realize and participate in initiatives to study and safeguard wartime (1940-1943) heritage in the Sardinia insula. […]
Hello to everyone in the Pillbox Study Group I am an archaeologist working for the Auckland Regional Council in New Zealand and recently undertook a survey a coastal defence battery (2×6 and 2×9.2 inch guns) in the Whangaparaoa Defence Area, north of Auckland. The approaches to the battery are defended […]
There are relics of fortification along the beaches either side of Napier, New Zealand. Mostly, these were/are pillboxes of presumably New Zealand Ministry of Defence design. In addition, there was a Coastal Defence Artillery Battery on Bluff Hill, overlooking the Port of Napier. A little research showed that 77 Battery […]
Sound mirrors are large acoustic deflectors, used for early warning of approaching aircraft.Unlike the earlier Semi-Spherical sound mirrors of the South Coast of England, this mirror is in the form of a stone built parabolic wall, 225 feet in length. It’s known locally as Il-Widna, Maltese for “the ear”. A […]
On a recent visit to Malta, Paul Wells spotted this camouflage pillbox close to the famous Blue Grotto. Unfortunately, Paul was only able to get a distant photograph of the structure but he says it appears to be in good condition and in no danger of destruction. Obviously someone thought […]
The defence plan of the early 1930’s was for a defensive line across the Kowloon Peninsular, known as the Inner Line (or later as the Gindrinkers Line), and fixed machine gun posts, backed up by mobile reserves for the southern beaches of the Island. In 1935, construction started on a […]
By Daniele Grioni
Whilst on the beach one day I spotted what to my untrained eye looked like a pillbox. I went back the next day with my camera and took the attached pictures which I thought may be of interest to PSG members. It is located on top of a small sand […]
Whilst strolling along Kalamanki Beach, Zakynthos the day after I arrived in Zante imagine my surprise when looking up from a particularly interesting geological feature – a quartz dyke – to discover a Pillbox perched precariously on the cliff edge above. Based very approximately on a cross between a Type […]
The Westwall was a series of fortifications constructed between 1938 and 1940 along the western frontier of Germany between the Netherlands and Switzerland. In WWII the Allies called it the Siegfried Line. After Germany invaded Belgium in May 1940, the line was no longer garrisoned and was neither maintained nor […]
Two pillboxes for a Vickers machine-gun near ‘Moulin du Rhin’ east of Dunkirk. They are part of a group of four pillboxes that defended the inundated polders in the western part of the Maginot Line. The front of one of the pillboxes near ‘Moulin du Rhin’. The embrasure is slightly […]
I have recently visited the area of Lille again to look for pillboxes there. I have selected some photos for your site. Up to now I have identified the following types of pillboxes: 1) A Single HMG and an entrance with a 90° curve (E.g. Moulin dur Rhin). 2) As 1), but […]
Having been introduced to ‘concreteitus’ by my next door neighbour Graham Matthews I couldn’t help noticing these structures whilst on holiday near Pointe Du Raz just below Brest. These were tucked away in the cliffs overlooking the beach at the Baie Des Trespasses. I guess these are part of the […]
It was signed as an ‘Air Raid Tower’ and its purpose was to look for incendiaries and bombs during British/American air raids. It is located in the middle of the Pilsner Urquell Brewery in Pilsen by Ken Blackman
Whilst on holiday in Cyprus I managed to find a couple of Pillboxes in a small village called Latchi, situated on the west coast about an hours drive away from Paphos. They were on top of a steep hill, the first with a single embrasure overlooking the bay. This was […]
Photos byDave Davies
‘Pen-Y-Gwryd Hotel’ Snowdonia, North Wales OS Sheet: 115 (Snowdon) I wonder how many visitors to the Snowdonia National Park pass these Pillboxes every year without even giving them a second glance. Those that do acknowledge their existence probably give no more than “What on earth is a Pillbox doing up […]
Kevin Briggs from Monmouth, has kindly sent in photographs he took in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The Defence Structures are to be found on the western side of the River Severn. Type 22 Pillbox @ Magor (1987) Grid: ST 4130-8680 Note the very unusual concrete plinths that protrude above each […]
Pickett-Hamilton Fort The former WWII airfield at Llandow, South Wales, has recently been earmarked for development, and many of the surviving wartime structures are likely to be destroyed. One such structure was the top half of a Pickett-Hamilton Fort. I spoke to the owners who said I could have it. In […]
Point Of Ayr is located along the North Wales coast at the tip of land on the western side of the Dee Estuary. It has a wonderful lighthouse positioned on the wide flat beach about 150m off the line of sand dunes that run for miles along this part of […]
This site has absolutely nothing to do with Conway, Gwynedd, it is part of the Western Command Carmarthen Stop Line, which runs from Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, in the south, to Llangrannog, Ceredigion, in the north. The village name is Cynwyl Elfed and I’m afraid Philip Knight’s information is, perhaps, not entirely […]
North Wales OS Sheet: 124. GRID: SH 5650 – 3730 A few months ago I decided that a day at the seaside would be a great idea. I hadn’t been to the Porthmadog part of Wales for about 20 years and so I had no idea that I was to find […]
COAST ARTILLERY BATTERY: S0015240
The first one is at the side of the A198 between Port Seton and Aberlady and is very overgrown. There are two large blocks, one with slots and one with holes both flanked by normal tank cubes. The second pic is again at the side of the A198, this time […]
Belfast, Northern Island. Grey Point is located in the village of Helen’s Bay off the main Belfast to Bangor road on the coast of Belfast lough east of Belfast. It is tucked a little out of the way but is reasonably sign posted on Fort Road. From official guide book. […]
Surviving Defences around the C.A.D Monkton Farleigh, Wiltshire. During the 1930s there was a requirement for secure storage for munitions throughout Great Britain. Three main CAD or Central Ammunition Depots were created , north of England Longton Cumbria, the midlands Nesscliffe in Shropshire and one in the south which became […]
An Un Recorded Hexagonal Gun Pit in Wiltshire Ngr: su 236 632 While out looking at the bridges on the Kennet and Avon canal I came across this excellent hexagonal 6 pounder gun pit. On passing by and catching a glimpse of what seemed like concrete i decided to pull over to investigate further. […]
Sea Front Type 26 Ngr TQ 098 015 A restored but completely sealed Type 26 pillbox can be found on the seafront promenade at Ferring, West Sussex. By Mark Harley
A Collection of Roadblock Cylinders and Rails. These road block components were found along Brownsover Lane just off the A246 near Rugby. A group of cylinders covered in moss were laying on a fields edge just beside a right hand bend. Continuing down the lane towards the Ambulance station a further cylinder […]
Decoy Site War Walk at Offchurch Having decided to visit the bombing decoy site at Offchurch we travelled eastwards along the grand union canal towards Radford Semele so we could have a quick look at the type 24 pillbox, which is located on the non-towpath side of the canal at […]
The pictures show some of the anti-tank blocks that can be found along the disused LMS railway line that once stretched between Leamington Spa and Rugby. They are also described in the missing defences section of the PSG website, This is the individual block as described by Steven Carvell, two […]
Goodrest Farm, Bannerhill, Kenilworth. NGR SP275693 Along with some friends I travelled to Kenilworth to take a look at the heavy anti-aircraft site at Goodrest Farm, Bannerhill just off Rouncil Lane to the east of the town. In 1940 the heavy anti-aircraft battery [or HAA] known as Bannerhill Camp, was […]
The Warwick Times from February 2008. The following article was written by Lise Evans after reading Steve Carvell’s book Twentieth-Century Defences in Warwickshire. Thanks to Lise Evans and Steve Carvell for giving the Pillbox Study Group a big mention in the article. Graham G Matthews PSG Webmaster.
Clifton upon Dunsmore Stent Pillbox Ngr SP523758 After spending the day in Rugby researching some family history I decided to have a look for the stent pillbox in Clifton upon Dunsmore in Warwickshire which I found quite easily courtesy of Steve Carvells book. Looking through the loophole from the towpath […]
Abbey Fields, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The Abbey Fields air raid shelters I have enclosed some pictures of the air raid shelters in and around the Abbey Fields in Kenilworth. Starting at the war memorial at the top of the Abbey Fields we followed Forrest Road to the left and down the […]
NGR: NZ 394 694 Tynemouth Priory Haven Beach Light is located on the north-side of the harbour at Tynemouth. It would have covered the sea over Priory Haven and the main harbour towards South Shields. A Gun Battery and ruined priory are located on the cliff above. by Stephen Lewins […]
Tillingbourne Brook, East Shalford Lane, Ngr TQ 012474 On a section of GHQ Line B near Shalford in Surrey is a badly deteriorating, but still highly interesting drum shaped anti tank gun emplacement. Postioned on the edge of a woods and a gentle slope facing south west, its map ref […]
Blackhorse Road Railway Bridge, Woking, Surrey. Ngr SU968571 This large rectangular pillbox stands protecting the road bridge under the main London to Bournemouth railway at Blackhorse Rd, Woking, despite being partially overgrown the structure looks in excellent condition and has three facing south west facing embrasures which cover the road […]
Kettlebury Hill and its Concrete Bunker Ngr SU880404 Not far from the D-Day training wall at Hankley Common is an unusual rectangular blockhouse set on the edge of Kettlebury Hill, this once had a clear commanding view across the open common below but over time the view has been obscured by tree growth. The structure is quite […]
Hankley Common “Atlantic Wall” Tilford SU884413 Visiting Hankley Common in Surrey I decided to capture some of the interesting parts of the “Atlantic wall” that survive today scattered around the woodland in this pleasant part of Surrey. The ruins can be found after a short walk in a straight line […]
Blackburn Works, Cattershall Lane, Godalming, Surrey. Ngr SU982444 Until 2005 an unusual and rare find could be seen on top of an old Victorian looking works which belonging to the J L Blackburn engineering company close to the River Wey at Godalming. I happened to notice which at first appeared […]
Spigot Mortar Base and Air Raid Shelter. Farnham Park is accessible to all and within can be found surviving relics from WW2. During the conflict the park was close to the GHQ Line and next to Farnham Castle where the War Office had established its Camouflage Development and Training Centre. The […]
Anti Tank Gun Defence and Hidden Vickers Machine Gun Box, GHQ Line B, Elstead, Surrey. Taking a public footpath from Somerset Bridge which crosses the River Wey close to Elstead in Surrey, I had planned to take a look at one of the large AT pillboxes, one of several in […]
The Mill at Elstead on the River Wey, GHQ Line B, Surrey. Beside the River Wey at the Mill in Elstead is an excellent preserved FW3/22 pillbox, it can be found close to the main entrance and beer garden of the picturesque restaurant and public house. Although the brick shuttered […]
This three looped Pillbox variant was sited at the harbour entrance at Lowestoft opposite a Pounder Emplacement. Another example of this design can be found 14 miles to the south with a group of ‘two looped square’ pattern pillboxes. The ‘two looped square’ Pillbox (Type 26 Variant?) is commonly found […]
Boyton Marshes Tank Ranges Loopholed Wall In Suffolk Farmhouse Anti-Tank Sockets In Road Airfield Defence Pillbox At Woodbridge Alistair Graham Kerr, Editor Psg ‘Loopholes’ Journal
Mark Brotherton has been out and about in Suffolk & Norfolk checking out some of the local defence structures. Bury St Edmunds Hudson House Pillbox Kilverston Railway Crossing Lackford Littleport Mildenhall Pillbox Hengrave Rougham White Chapel Farm By Mark Brotherton
Whilst on our survey, we discovered 3 large gun emplacements (at least we think they are gun emplacements!). They are on Boyton Marshes in the parishof Boyton, Suffolk (TM/639/247 approx) and are much larger than the common pillboxes found throughout this area. We have serached the Defence of Britain database […]
The lake was built in 1797 to provide water for the canal system and is strictly a reservoir rather than a lake. It was of prime importance during WWII as it’s destruction would have severely affected the ability of the important canal network to have remained operational. To this end […]
The snaps are self explanatory and are of the old air field at Lichfield now called called Fradley Park. When I stopped to take the initial Pillbox, I discovered one under the cover of the Canal Bridge. Since I was now dressed to go field walking, I only took them […]
Churnet Stop-Line, Cheddleton, Staffordshire I enclose a couple of pix of the remains of a FW3/22? at Cheddleton in Staffs by a bridge on the Churnet stop line. You can see the drill holes for the charges: this chunk was left as it formed a low wall above the canal. […]
A 1980`S Photographic Record Of Mineheads’ WWII Defences
I thought the members of the PSG would be interested in this unique 1940s time-warp view of our railway station on the Somerset and Dorset at Midsomer Norton, Somerset. We recently uncovered our Type 24 from behind a veil of 30 years of overgrowth. At present we are restoring the […]
Type 24 Pillbox Guarding Road Bridge Over Canal Gorge If you are travelling around the Shropshire countryside and happen to find yourself driving along the A519 between Newport and Eccleshall you will inevitably pass over the Shropshire Union Canal just north of Norbury Junction. The road bridge looks nothing out […]
I remembered seeing these pillboxes years ago when I was on holiday and as I was in the area this Summer and paid them a visit. They are examples of Eared Pillboxes, some of which have fallen over the cliff and ended upside down on the beach below. By Tam […]
Tony Hendry and son Karl have been about and about looking at the local defences near their home in Norfolk. It’s great to see a new generation taking a keen interest in military concrete! This Pillbox is located on the A47 on the right side just before you go into […]
A Rather Unusual Pillbox If you turn onto the Great Yarmouth sea front and head south after about 1 mile you come to the end of the holiday part of Yarmouth and head into an industrial part that is connected with the docks and known as the South Denes. About […]
Norfolk is a county famous for it’s coastal erosion problems and the area around Cromer is certainly no exception. This pillbox is located approximately half a mile north of the Pier and undoubtedly ‘slumped’ down onto the beach below as the very soft ‘glacial till’ material of the cliffs was […]
I attach four photographs of the exposed beach at Brancaster, north Norfolk on the 18th February 2005. The beach scaffolding has been exposed by recent high tides and the section of exposed angled wall I think may well be an anti-tank wall? As the command building (now the Brancaster Golf […]
Sam Watson & Derek Thompson Take Us Around Some Of The Defence Sites Found In Lincolnshire.
These are pictures of the 6 inch Emergency Battery at Freiston Shore, Lincolnshire. By Sam Thompson
Ngr SD710091 Bolton ‘Fire Watchers Post’ as seen mounted on the former gas works in New Holder Street, Bolton. Photos by Kevin Dowd
Surviving Wartime Defences around Blackpool. The first five images are at grid reference SD328313 and are of a bunker inside the perimeter fence at Blackpool Airport. It can be found at the end of an old access/emergency road. I am not sure what its purpose was but it is very […]
The River Medway & GHQ Line at Teston. The village of Teston [pronounced Teason] is on the north bank of the River Medway and is four miles west of the county town of Maidstone. In 1940 a section of the GHQ line defences ran through Teston and today six pillboxes, […]
River Medway and Barming Bridge. Ngr TQ725539 PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0009607 (Extant) and PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): e32783 (Extant) I had observed the two ivy clad structures in the bottom of an apple orchard just east of the rail bridge over a minor road from the village of Barming and the […]
This is a short article on the GHQ line between the villages of Ashurst (on the Kent and Sussex border) and the village of Penshurst in Kent along the course of the River Medway, both of the villages lie to the west of Tunbridge Wells. Penshurst village was an anti-tank […]
Viaduct Pillboxes. Adisham Viaduct in East Kent is unusual in that it has two pillboxes built into the recesses of the archways. This photo above shows the left hand arch with the top of the pillbox outline. This photo shows a close-up of the wall and end of one of […]