STOCKFIELD MODIFIED `STENT` PILLBOX, PILLBOX STUDY GROUP

STOCKSFIELD MODIFIED `STENT` PILLBOX

STEPHEN LEWINS

STOCKSFIELD PILLBOX

NZ 053 617

This pillbox is the only one of this type I know of in Northumberland. It is located not far from the railway station at Stocksfield on the Newcastle to Carlisle line.

It is an unusual `L` shaped concrete construction and made of pre-cast concrete slabs approximately 18 inches wide. It is something like a `Stent` pillbox though the construction is only single skin walled. The panels are only about five inches thick which would not offer too much protection.

There are seven embrasures two approximately 20 inches wide by 10 inches high, the rest are 10 x 10 inches square. The inside shows no sign of having rifle shelves fitted. The embrasures are all the same height from the ground at about five feet on the inside of the pillbox. The outside height is approximately 7 feet.

The doorway is on the front of the pillbox and a bit of an odd position considering the purpose of the pillbox to cover the large road bridge to the north east over the River Tyne from Bywell. The doorway could easily be targeted from the bridge if you knew where it was and a few shots in through the door would ricochet around the pillbox making life for the occupants very difficult.

The bridge to Bywell was part of the Tyne/ North Tyne stop line. This does not have much in the way of pillbox defences but was a major part of the demolition stop line with all the Tyne bridges to be destroyed in the event of an evasion.

To get to the site from Stocksfield railway station follow the road that leads from the north side of the station to Bywell and Stocksfield Hall. After approximately half a mile the road bends toward the bridge and on your right there is a turning that leads to the Hall. Opposite the road to the Hall there is an entrance to a field; you need to enter the field, on the right there is a square building that is a Northumbrian water pump house. Turn right and follow the edge of the field heading north towards the bridge for about 150 yards. The pillbox can be seen in the trees (a summer visit may make the spotting of the pillbox difficult due to the ivy and undergrowth) .