Building record TQ 77 SE 1232 - Infantry type 24 pillbox, northern edge of Berry Court Wood, Hoo Peninsula

Standard concrete construction pillbox with 7 embrasures. With brick shuttering.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey : Via public footpath.
Tourism Potential : Possible heritage trail?
Condition : good
Date of visit : 12/03/06

Description from record TQ 77 SE 116:
1940 Pillbox at edge of N. boundary of Berry Courtwood. Concrete type 24, a roofed building facing N. Narrow wall version with brick skin. On woodland/unmanaged land.

Start of para (2):
This feature is recorded in the English Heritage report on the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula, part of the wider Hoo Peninsula study. The report states: "Second World War reinforced concrete and brick shuttered Type 24 pillbox located at the northern edge of Berry Court Wood at the junction of two footpaths. The pillbox has recessed embrasures. This pillbox was constructed at the point where the Stop Line's anti-tank ditch met the edge of Berry Court Wood, which was incorporated as a defence obstruction. The pillbox was recorded during the Defence of Britain Project but was only visible on aerial photographs of 1944 and 1953 during the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Historic Landscape Project. The pillbox was located and seen to be a complete structure during a field visit in 2014. " (2)

Brick shuttered pillbox. Concrete type 24 pillbox facing N. Narrow wall version with brick skin. On woodland/unmanaged land. At edge of N boundary of Berry Courtwood, at junction of two footpaths. (1)

The Second World War pillbox described in authority 1 is situated on a north west facing slope near the north western corner of Lodge Hill Royal Naval Armaments Depot (Monument 1077634). It is one element within the supporting defences of a Stop Line (Monument 1542577) constructed in 1940 across the south western third of the Hoo Peninsula, from the north bank of the Medway to the south bank of the Thames at Higham Creek. This pillbox was constructed at the point where the Stop Line's anti tank ditch met the edge of Berry Court Wood, which was incorporated as a defence obstruction. The pillbox and the rest of the Stop Line defences have been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project. (2-3)

<1> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Site visit by VTC Smith 1995 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<2> historic england, 2014, Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes. Research Report 9-2014. (Bibliographic reference). SKE31599.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2002, Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SKE32029.

<4> 11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, 12/01/40, War diary. (Collection). SKE14269.

<5> 11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, 12/01/40, War diary. (Collection). Ske14269.

<6> MMRG, 12/03/06, Pill box type 24 (Photograph). Ske14500.

<7> MMRG, 12/03/06, Pill box type 24 (Photograph). SKE14500.