There was an unusual pillbox built into the viaduct over Bekesbourne Lane. This was one of at least three unusual pillboxes on 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 it conformed to none of the usual models of pillbox construction. It had brick-shuttered elevations, a thick concrete roof with a bevelled edge, and small embrasures for rifles. Perhaps because it was not a standard pillbox, this was not listed in the 1940 lists of such structures. A roadblock (number 28 in the 1940 lists) was formed under this same viaduct, but must have been essentially independent in operation since it could not be covered directly from the pillbox. It survives in good condition although the setting has been altered somewhat.
Owner : Unknown
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : good
Date of visit :

CBA Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SKE15195.

CBA Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). Ske15195.

John Herbert, Photograph by John Herbert (digital copy in project archive) (Photograph). SKE15194.

John Herbert, Photograph by John Herbert (digital copy in project archive) (Photograph). Ske15194.

Burridge, D., 01/01/97, Kent: 20th Century Defences in Britain (Bibliographic reference). SKE15192.

Burridge, D., 01/01/97, Kent: 20th Century Defences in Britain (Bibliographic reference). Ske15192.