These were among least four unusual pillboxes along the Dover, Canterbury, Whitstable Stop Line (based, locally, on the Canterbury to Dover Railway), which were inserted under the flanking arches of viaducts. (Others are at Bekesbourne and under the Harbledown Viaduct, Canterbury.) As such they conformed to none of the usual models of pillbox construction. These are a pair of small, brick-built pillboxes, built into the steeply descending banks below the Bossington Road viaduct, and sighting up and down the road. They were listed together as pillbox No.114 (Sector 3) in a list of East Kent pillboxes dated 2 December 1940 (the stated Military Grid reference was R 671723). They shelter under two tall, brick railway-arches flanking the principal arch over the roadway. They are substantially of brick, but the small rectangular gun embrasures are framed with plank-shuttered concrete. The concrete reveals are deeply splayed and the heads of the embrasures slope similarly. The pillboxes lack integral roofs, overhead cover being provided, instead, by the supervening viaduct. The railway in question formed part of the Dover, Canterbury, Whitstable Stop Line, and the pillboxes clearly belong to the stop-line defences. They are extant and in fair condition. Secondary components of the locality, such as excavated defences, may survive archaeologically in the near vicinity. There was also a road block under the viaduct.
Owner : Unknown
Publicly accessible : Unknown
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential : The pillboxes are well-known to pillbox enthusiasts and are worth bringing to wider attention.
Condition : good
Date of visit :

Photograph by John Herbert (digital copy in project archive). (Photograph). SKE14714.

Photograph by John Herbert (digital copy in project archive). (Photograph). Ske14714.

Finch R., Some Pillboxes and Stop Lines (Article in serial). SKE14712.

Finch R., Some Pillboxes and Stop Lines (Article in serial). Ske14712.

43 Division General Staff, 01/01/40, War Diary 43 Division General Staff (Unpublished document). SKE14713.

43 Division General Staff, 01/01/40, War Diary 43 Division General Staff (Unpublished document). Ske14713.

Burridge D., 01/01/97, 20th Century Defences in Britain: Kent (Bibliographic reference). SKE14711.

Burridge D., 01/01/97, 20th Century Defences in Britain: Kent (Bibliographic reference). Ske14711.