SEATON DELAVAL UNUSUAL PILLBOX SAVED!

by

COLIN ANDERSON

As a drayman for a small brewery based in North Shields, I get to drive around the North of England quite a bit.

On the 27th Jan 2006 I spotted what looked like a pair of loopholes in a stone built building in a garden at Seaton Delaval.

I took some pics with my phone camera and went back the following week and took a few others with my main camera.

The presence of a substantial stone wall in front of two of the loopholes cast some doubt as to whether it was actually a pillbox. I fell that it may be a WWI pillbox because of the age of the wall in front but I can't be sure.Recently the house that was at the site has been demolished and I feared for the safety of the potential pillbox. Once again when visiting i was without my main camera but the site was open as was the pillbox. I took some photos and these can be seen at

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE OF MY PHOTOS

Doing some research tonight I came across the planning application for the site.

Included in this were two clauses which deal with the preservation and enhancement of the pillbox and the protection of it during the development.

This shows the enlightened attitude of Blyth borough council as they are also preserving and hoping to open to the public the old Blyth battery.

This one is definitely not in the dob or any other listing that I have access to.

Colin Anderson

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Copyright Graham G Matthews@PSG2009