There is a Second World War pillbox (possibly of Type 23, and wholly of concrete) about 40m from Island Road on its south-east side, facing roughly northwards towards Sarre Bridge where the road (A28) crosses the River Wantsum. The bridge itself was prepared for demolition, along with other bridges along this River - which locally formed part of a kind of defensive line called a ‘Grid Line’ – and this pillbox was presumably meant to provide this roadblock with covering fire. Shown on 11.1940 German map with horseshoe of barbed wire.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : Unknown
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : good
Date of visit :

Summary updated 10/03/2010 - This structure was recorded from 1940s aerial photographs [2] as part of Phase 1 of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey. It appears to be hexagonal in plan and is therefore more likely to be of Type 22. The pillbox is one of several covering the Sarre area, see Related Monuments. The pillbox is said to be constructed on top of a saltmound (TR 26 SE 5).

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photography exists within a GIS layer held by this HER [3].

John Herbert, Photograph by John Herbert (digital copy in project archive) (Photograph). SKE15381.

<1> John Herbert, Photograph by John Herbert (digital copy in project archive) (Photograph). Ske15381.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2009-10, South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - Aerial Photographic Transcriptions (Digital archive). SWX15705.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document). SKE25955.

<3> Cornwall Council Historic Environment Projects and Gloucestershire County Council, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document). SKE25954.