EASTNEY BEACH DEFENCES, PILLBOX STUDY GROUP

PSG HELPS SAVE WWII DEFENCES

EASTNEY BEACH

HAMPSHIRE

Subject: RE: Eastney Beach Fraser Range Anti Tank Blocks

Hi David

Your email has been passed on to me by our web master.

There is no statutory protection for WW2 defence structures, however, the first thing that you need to do is to check if the a/t blocks are
listed in the Sites and Monuments record at Hampshire County Council. I am certain that they will be.

Secondly, you should point out to the County Archaeologist that these particular A/T blocks are unique in the UK and possibly in the World.
I know them fairly well, if you walk along them you will find painted arrows on one of the blocks, if my memory serves me correctly, and it is some fifteen years since I was last there, one is red and one blue. This is what makes the blocks so important. These arrows mark the end / beginning of a patrol line.

During WW2 soldiers, maybe Home Guard or Royal Marines, patrolled the beach. One guard would have patrolled from Langstone Channel to the marked block and the other guard would have patrolled the other way.

This procedure was standard along most of the coastline of the UK but only in Portsmouth, or more precisely in Eastney, is the evidence still extant.

I hope that this helps you in your quest.

Regards

John Hellis

FAO: John Hellis & Graham Matthews at The Pillbox Study Group,UK

Gt Britain Sea Defences

Hello John & Graham,

Thank you for your messages and the very interesting pieces of history about the beach. You say that these WWII Defences at Eastney Beach, Hampshire UK might not be protected. Well, I have good news for you all.

At a meeting with Portsmouth City Council Officials this week, we were presented with a 1985 copy of the English Heritage letter [copy in the attachment] confirming that the entire length of WWII Defences on this beach are indeed protected by being a Scheduled Ancient Monument [ "SAM 593" ] .

You may be aware from the English Heritage website that it is a criminal offence to "mess" with a Scheduled Ancient Monument without
the formal consent of The Secretary of State for the Environment.

We shall, in the next week, rejoice at this news on our award winning website www.eastneybeach.org.uk to which you are most welcome to link your own study group website.

In the coming few weeks we may also be asking Portsmouth City Council to erect stiff notices along the beach to enlighten the public about this fantastic monument to our heritage. We may at that point seek your support as we shall also be asking The Council for British Archaeology.

Thank you for all your help.
Best wishes,

David Denison