Lots of tidal activity and heavy rain scoured away the sand that covered this Admirality Z1 beach scaffolding. Pictures taken Oct 2019.
Colin
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Morpeth Air Raid Shelters Update 28/10/2020 Driving through Morpeth it was obvious that some work had been done to the pair of Air Raid shelters between houses on St Mary’s Field. Rather than demolishing them they’ve been rendered and preserved for the future. A pair of civil air raid shelters […]
These Tetrahedra formed part of the XII corps stopline (Dover to Whitstable). They were moulded at a large site nearby and deliverd to site by lorry.
A variant type pillbox found only in Northumberland. There are variations , some with HMG loops and others with varying numbers of rifle loops. All have a dog legged entrance with pistol loop.
Thanks to Chris Nason for the photo’s and finding the roadblock.
Site Type: PILLBOX (20TH CENTURY) Canmore ID: 296529 Site Number: ND39SW 121 Grid Reference: ND 33922 91339 Description: A small rectangular concrete building with three loopholes is situated above the high water mark about 101m NE of the Martello Tower at Hackness (ND39SW 8). The entrance is in the SE […]
Recently unearthed, this standard type Battle HQ has had it’s roof and cupola removed. The cupola is said to exist amongst a pile of concrete waste elsewhere on the farm. This BHQ is on private land and was visited with permission from the landowner.
A pair of air raid shelters on the small island of Glimps Holm, between Churchill barriers 2 and 3. There are the remains of an old jetty nearby and various artefacts associated with the construction of the Churchill barriers.
A well preserved trench system that is thought to date from WWI, though may be WWII. This is located roughly 100mtrs from Pillbox S0007237
Pictures of the large gun house at Low Cocklawburn beach near Scremerston. These are from 2004 and predate the current trend for graffiti and general painting of the rear wall.
Not great photos, captured with very old phone. By the time I went back with a proper camera, about a week later, the building had been demolished.
Concrete rectangular pillbox located at back of dunes overlooking road off beach. Now used for service duct, either electric or water board. Original blast wall to entrance present, with embrasures.
A “mini gun battery” at Beacon Point Newbiggin. There is a Hotchkiss 6pdr gun house and a vickers machinegun pillbox as well as the remains of a Lozenge pillbox and another destroyed heavy achine gun pillbox. There is evidence that the Main gun house andf the lozenge pillbox were linked […]
A firewatchers / mine watchers post overlooking the North Shields Ferry landing.
This pillbox has now been opened up after the adjoining garden was extended over the roof. The area behind the pillbox has been cleared of sand to reveal the fact that the pillbox is a double Machine gun pillbox with each compartment having a separate door covered by it’s own […]
Several Anti- invasion defences were constructed around Seaton Delaval Hall, during WW2, such was the fear of invasion from the North Sea after the fall of Norway. These defensive measures around Seaton Delaval Hall included a low-level defensive stone wall, with rifle loops located east of Deer park. ‘L’ shaped […]
Built of concrete filled sandbags, these pillboxes are known as “Beehives”
Shortly after these pictures were taken in September 2010, the extremely bad winter of 2010 caused a build up of snow on the roof of this barn, causing it to collapse at the height of the loopholes.
Loopholed wall protecting Northern approach to Alnwick. Pictures taken in 2006.
A shellproof pillbox located on railway land – so don’t be tempted to trespass there. These pictures from 2006.
Part of Inganess Stop Line. No close ups of this one as on a guided walk.
Pillbox, roofless. It has been incorporated into the fence line and has three strands of fencing wire which have been wound around the pillbox. The fence has now been moved. It is likely that this pillbox is ex-situ.
Very fine example of a pillbox disguised as a small stone cottage with brick chimney stack and “collapsed” roof. This pillbox is now listed at grade II.
Rectangular pillbox, disguised with stone facing to front and sides and concrete sandbags to rear.
The pictures below were taken shortly after the “Beast from the East” and show how much sand was scoured away by the storm.
There are four searchlights installed here and a Twin 6pdr with no overhead cover or director tower. Pictures below from June 2025. Extreme range photo’s taken from Pentalina Ferry.
4 x 12pdr QF guns were emplaced here. The battery remains fairly complete. The magazines are still extant but buried.
A type 22 pillbox with a sunken entrance located at Lyness on Hoy, Orkney.
A type 22 pillbox with a (blocked) sunken entrance located at Lyness on Hoy, Orkney. There is evidence that at least one of the loopholes has been modified using stone and concrete.
This massive WWI building provided a welcome rest and recreation centre for the many troops stationed on Flotta and for the Navy, who came ashore at the nearby St Vincent pier. There was a golf course and several tennis courts. The annual Grand Fleet Boxing Championship was held nearby, where […]
Type 22 pillbox. Location identified from the book “If Hitler Comes” Interesting construction with block built corners and shuttered panels between.
This shelter is situated on the site of the former HMS Tern. Although similar in construction to the Stanton Shelter the internal shape is different in that it is less “pointy”. The “pointier” Stanton shape means the lower walls are more upright thus giving more room for seated occupants of […]
This pillbox is undoubtedly not in it’s original position and appears to have been converted for use as a water tank.
These views of the Loopholed wall at Alnwick Cemetery are from 2005 and predate the building of the Sainsburys supermarket and other buildings which now obscure the view of the wall. The pictures below were taken from inside the cemetery in 2006.
Naval Bombing Decoy (N Series): e18999 – locally known as The Brickie Hut.
Wee Fea Naval Communications And Operational Centre.
Deerness Chain Home Station 50, transmitter/receiver block at HY 5690 0736. Various radar types used inlcuding type 13 (Mk1), height finder and type 51, a high power surface watching set which was similar in appearance to the type 52 (for tracking shipping). Only three type 51 stations were built in […]
Located on the Golta peninsular on the Island of Flotta, This WWI battery initially housed 3 3pdr’s. This was upped to 4 12pdr’s which were transferred from Holm battery . The battery is extremely well preserved and even has blast baffles remaining in one of the trenches to the magazine.
This pillbox shows some signs of damage probably from small arms fire.
Listed as “Probable type 28A pillbox visible on 1946 AP’s facing the bridge. May still exist on the northern edge of the farm yard.” Still extant. Photo’s Mike Anton via PSG website. 51.013328° -0.052078°
Hadston Lozenge 55 1748.12″N 1 3547.20″W Good Condition.
This variant pillbox is circular with three large loopholes. It has a sunken entrance with two staple steps fitted down the shaft. It’s in pretty good condition and graffiti free. It’s almost completely invisible amongst the vegetation.
Fairly well preserved HAA Battery located on Bressay, Shetland.
Situated SE of Lerwick, immediately W of Peerie Geo, at the end of the Knab Road, The Knab. Coastal Battery. One gun emplacement and magazine remain. The second gun emplacement has been replaced by the turning circle at the end of the Knab Road.
Coastal Battery, consisting of two searchlight emplacements and one engine house, the latter of which is presently used as a domestic garage. The battery had two 12 pounder guns installed in October 1942 and later reduced to Care and Maintenance in January 1945. In use, the battery had the dual […]