DIPLEY PILLBOX `MAKEOVER`, PILLBOX STUDY GROUP

DIPLEY PILLBOX `MAKEOVER`

HAMPSHIRE

TIM DENTON

NGR: SU738565

Revealed, a long hidden Hampshire Pillbox

On a bitterly cold day during January 2007, Graham Matthews and I spent a morning giving a `makeover` to an unusual shellproof pillbox near Dipley in Hampshire.

The wartime structure had lain shrouded in undergrowth for the past 30 years or so, and could hardly be seen due to its blending in with the tall hedgerow behind it.

I had come across the elusive south-west facing defence at NGR SU738565 whilst carrying out a survey on the fields during the previous two years.

The farmer had very kindly given me permission to visit and remove the offending brambles and ivy growth to allow me to measure and photograph the box for a detailed drawing I had intended to do.

Located on private land the boxes partially covered roof is used a platform for both game keepers hunting the many wild deer in the area, and also by a shooting club who use the land for clay pigeon practise, hence the chairs!.

The GHQ line A crosses the fields here, moving from north east to a south west direction and following the course of the River Whitewater.

The landowner told me of an anti tank ditch that ran across the field between the location of the Pillbox and the woods to the west. The ditch ran from the edge of the wood which faces the dug in defence, it then finished at a drainage ditch between fields just below the pillbox.

The Anti Tank ditch was filled in during the late 1940s, but when ploughing the field annually, large lumps of concrete and the odd tree trunk were often brought to the surface over its area.

On studying a recent Ariel photograph, I could see quite clearly where the anti tank defence had run.

The hidden pillbox is not the only defence surviving on the land, there are another two of the design we were about to uncover, and four bullet proof type 24 boxes.

All of these surviving defences are in very poor condition. Most of them have the brick shuttering coming away and are all partially if not fully overgrown.

Graham had risen early that morning, and had driven the 100 miles from Dorset to help me with this interesting task.
Whilst I supplied the cutting equipment and tools needed, he very thoughtfully brought his portable stove for a well earned brew up during one of our few breaks.

I had promised the farmer I would leave the area tidy, so a bonfire was lit, both to warm us on this sub zero morning, and to dispose of the mountains of removed undergrowth.

After hacking through two to three foot deep vicious brambles, the sides of the box became visible.

Sure enough the defence was dug in on the sloping field’s edge, appearing roughly square in shape. Both of the pillboxes front corners are chamfered as a design to deflect incoming shells.

The rear wall has a central doorway with no protection from loopholes. The top of the entrance has a substantial concrete lintel mounted above.

The Pillbox has three loopholes, each of these is made from a two piece concrete casting measuring 30 inches across, two of these still have the flame proof flaps attached.

Outer overall dimensions measured out at 190” by 220” wide. The shell proof walls are 51 inches thick, with the rear wall being only bullet proof at 24 inches thick.

Internally the pillbox is in good condition with only minimal dampness.

The central X shaped anti ricochet, and internal lower walls still have a very visible coating of the white paint as found in most pillboxes in the area.

All of the weapons shelves have the step up point with triangular cut out and round weapon point.
The only real deterioration was found on one of the front corners on the box, this had an area of red brick shuttering missing.

We both managed to find some of the missing components and Graham expertly slotted most of them back in place as if in a jigsaw puzzle.

The design of pillbox is one of three on this section and as far as I know is unique to the GHQ line A.

Facing 187 degrees south west it was positioned to be able to enfilade along the nearby anti tank ditch, as well as giving a sweep of fire North West towards the river at the bottom of the sloping field.

Although at first appearance its design seems similar to a type 26, its overall dimensions are far greater and the box is much more substantially built.

We eventually completed our task at around 2pm, both quite tired but well pleased with the result.
We took some final photos and finished tidying up; I had promised to take Graham on a tour of the GHQ line for the remainder of the daylight hours. We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting several sites and saw another 42 pillboxes in total as well as numerous anti tank obstacles and roadblocks, not a bad finale after a satisfying hard days work!

P.S. The snow landscape pictures were taken the following day on returning to check on the fires work.

RETURN TO DIPLEY 8th SEPTEMBER 2007

Thought you may like to see these photos, taken last night at 7.30pm. The box is grown up alround.

But look at the roof and brickwork!, its like new!. All the rain we had has washed it totally clean.

The sticking out tree has also fallen down.