Northumberland
Explosives store at Allenheads, Northumberland. Recently cleared of vegetation (2021). This is part of the Allenheads Mine complex. Construction is identical to the other Explosives stores that are located near to many of the bridges which formed parts of the Tyne Demolition line. This was most likely for storing explosives […]
There are two AT Hairpins at the ford on Batt House road, near New Ridley, which may be in their original position. They are identical in construction (mitred and welded) to the ones re-used near Allendale.
10 re-purposed AT Hairpins spread along the road from Allendale to Catton in Northumberland. They measure 38″ high and 72″ long. The RSJs are 6″ wide. These are the mitred and welded variety which were found to be weaker than the bent rail type and so fell out of use.
Site of roadblock in Alnwick, Northumberland. Latitude / Longitude: 55.40852564, -1.69695953Easting / Northing: 419286, 612774OS Grid Reference: NU 19286 12774What3Words: ///heaven.parsnips.talents
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 from 2007.
This pillbox used to have a corrugated iron roof structure above as camouflage.
Scant evidence for an anti tank vertical rail roadblock. There is evidence of another round the junction to the right in the first picture, as well as definite signs in a previous post.
This is located just North of the railway bridge over the road next to the Boatside pub in Warden near Hexham.
Pictures from 04/09/2015 showing damage caused by tree lopping. Pictures from May 2015 Pictures from 2011
A fine lozenge pillbox now in a new housing estate.
A second “Beehive” pillbox at Scrog Hill.
“Beehive” pillbox near Scrog Hill, Northumberland.
Located just north of Morpeth.
WW2 defensive military structures in woodland, north of avenue north farm, the avenue, Seaton Delaval hall estate, Northumberland, comprising a rifle section post with two hardened stores (nz31925 7660), also a defensible stone wall near lookout farm, the avenue nz325768) Design/location/construction notes of rifle section post and hardened stores. Military […]
This pillbox is located on high ground overlooking Greenhead in Northumberland and is constructed in the “Cumberland Pattern,” mostly circular with a concrete roof supported by a central column. Construction is concrete sandbag except for reinforced concrete roof.
A Pair of Explosives stores, probably part of the Tyne Demolition Line as they are close to the Bridges at Wylam and on the South side of the river as are identical stores at other bridges along the Tyne. The “windows” in the ends of both buildings have been crudely […]
One of three Northumberland D type Pillboxes in Eglingham, Northumberland
This is on Private land. We were granted permission to clean up and survey the Zero Station. An article about the clean up appeared in the Northumberland Archaeology Magazine. The clean up took place on 29/5/2010.
Air Raid Shelter in the back garden of a house on Mitford Road, Morpeth.
Site of anti tank vertical rail roadblock. Britain from above shows a D type pillbox to the left of the dip in the wall.
Pics from March 2025 Pictures from 2020
Buston links, South of Alnmouth, Northumberland.
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 […]
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.
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.
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 […]
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.
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.
The pictures below were taken shortly after the “Beast from the East” and show how much sand was scoured away by the storm.
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.
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.
Sockets for Anti Tank Vertical Rails.
Visible as slight depressions / darker patches in the road surface these are vertical rail sockets for a double roadblock located at the junction of The Wynding and front street at the south end of Bamburgh.
This unusual pillbox was in the grounds of a large Victorian house until that was demolished and replaced by at least 14 modern houses. A planning condition was imposed that the pillbox must be preserved, enhanced and protected during and after the building works. This was done and the pillbox […]
Rectangular pillbox, disguised with stone facing to front and sides and concrete sandbags to rear.
A Home Guard / Explosives Store located in the wilds of South Northumberland at Leazes Lane, Whitley Chapel at 54.91653392964734, -2.116918033117586, NY 92607 57982, What3Words: ///nearly.elders.reboot Pictures by colin Anderson August 2023.
