Restoration Of The ‘Dorset Round Type’ One-Off Design Pillbox At Sy 7600-9060
Initial Thoughts
The `DORSET ROUND TYPE` uncovered after 60 years. The Pillbox is 12’9″ in diameter with 28.5″thick walls.
Whilst travelling around the Dorset countryside in the mid-1990`s as a ‘Field Researcher’ for the Defence of Britain Project, I stumbled across a unique Pillbox, the type of which I have not seen replicated at any other location in the Westcountry.
For simplicity I called it the ‘Dorset Round Type’ due to the fact that it is completely round like the Type 25, but substantially larger.
During my initial visit in 1996 I noticed that it was under threat from a tree that was growing near its entrance and so in February 2004 I returned with John Hellis and Richard Drew for a more in-depth survey and we decided that action was needed if it was to be saved from destruction by vegetation.
The February 2004 Survey
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- Dorset `Round Type` completely covered in thick ivy.
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- Under attack from ivy and a large tree immediately adjacent.
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- Protective entrance wall complete with `loophole` being forced over by this huge tree.
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- Westerly facing loophole with the branches of the tree and ivy smothering it.
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- Another photo of the rear of the Pillbox showing the extent of the vegetation.
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- Another photo of the tree. Pillbox is on the right with the protective wall straight ahead. Note the right hand trunk which actually grows across the roof of the pillbox.
During February 2004 the initial survey revealed some very worrying developments to the structure. The tree that I had seen in 1996 had now grown to such a size that it was forcing one of the two protective entrance walls away from the pillbox itself. Anymore movement would undoubtedly lead to its collapse.
The whole of the pillbox was covered with thick ivy making it almost impossible to see from adjacent road.
Having spent about an hour on location carefully examining what needed to be done we approached the land owner, Mr Paull, who was thankfully more than happy for a team from the Pillbox Study Group to carry out a sympathetic ‘restoration’ of the structure.
Operation ‘Team Time Trench’ Restoration Project
At 0800 on Friday 13th August 2004 members of the Pillbox Study Group, along with some additional support from Bruce ‘Chainsaw’, got together at a location approximately 4 miles east of Dorchester.
Right from the start the undergrowth was so overwhelming that it would have been impossible to have cleared the pillbox without the appropriate equipment. Bruce ‘Chainsaw’ set to work immediately cutting an access round to the rear of the structure.
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- Bruce gets to work `carving` access to the rear of the pillbox.
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- Richard Drew & Tim Denton busy opening out the access.
Just to make things a little easier for us all Carol Matthews (my better half) & Bryony Hellis (John`s wife) set up a ‘Field Kitchen’ and kept us all fed and watered with bacon sandwiches, cakes and loads of tea!
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- Carol Matthews & Bryony Hellis with the PSG `Field Kitchen`!
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- The boys enjoying a well earned tea break at the `Field Kitchen`.
The biggest threat to the pillbox was a tree that had established itself right up against the rear wall of the pillbox immediately adjacent to the right hand entrance wall. Without our intervention it would only have been a matter of time before this entrance wall was pushed over. Unfortunately some irreparable damage had already been done with the wall being pushed inwards by about 4 inches.
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- The main structure of the pillbox still buried under the undergrowth with some of the offending tree protruding from behind.
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- Bruce about to make the first cut into the offending tree. Note how close it is to the pillbox and entrance wall.
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- Tree removal well underway. Note the curved entrance walls.
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- The main structure of the pillbox still buried under the undergrowth with some of the offending tree protruding from behind.
What was particularly amazing about the amount of vegetation covering the pillbox was the depth of material found on the roof. Sixty years of tree growth and accumulation of leaves, branches etc. ensured that the roof was covered with about 6 inches of well rotted but ‘matted’ together organic material. The clearing of this proved one of the most difficult tasks for the team to undertake.
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- 6 inches of debris matted together with the ivy made clearing the roof one of the most difficult tasks.
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- 6 inches of debris matted together with the ivy made clearing the roof one of the most difficult tasks.
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- Here it comes! Peeling back 60 years of undergrowth.
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- Almost there! Graham Matthews, Tim Denton & Alan Warren sliding off the last of the roof covering.
The Final Touches And Structure Survey
Hours later and the Dorset Round Type Pillbox is fully uncovered!
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- Stabilising part of the wall with mortar and adding our logo!
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- The curved protection entrance walls that make this pillbox so unique. They are 8`2″ long and only 1`5″ wide!
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- The curved protection entrance walls that make this pillbox so unique. They are 8`2″ long and only 1`5″ wide!
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- `Loophole` in entrance wall. Note how the wall on the left hand side is leaning in due to the tree (now removed) forcing it over.
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- Penetration by ivy behind the top layer of bricks was found to have caused damage in some areas. Here John Hellis gets to grips with relaying some of the bricks and repointing other key areas.
The final line-up after a very tiring but rewarding day.
On top: Gavin Matthews & Left to right: Alan Warren, Richard Drew, Tim Denton, Graham Matthews, John Hellis, Bruce ‘Chainsaw’!
The Pillbox Study Group Restoration Team!
By Graham G Matthews PSG Webmaster