Standard concrete construction infantry pillbox. No access, though visible through hedge.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential : Possible heritage trail
Condition : good
Date of visit : 11/05/06 (1,2)

A hexagonal brick-shuttered concrete pillbox. An infantry pillbox of type 24 facing ENE across the line of the former anti-tank ditch. Lack of brickwork above the embrasures is a feature unique to this particular part of the GHQ Line, presumably particular to an individual contractor.

The pillbox is deliberately located behind (to the west of) a hedge line to cover the anti-tank ditch (now in-filled) and field approaches to their north and east. The landscape here is relatively low-lying but the pillbox has been positioned to take advantage of a slight rise just below the Hoo St Werburgh ridge, providing the pillboxes with greater fields of fire. (3)

This pillbox is mentioned in the English Heritage report on the Second World War Stop Line on the Hoo Peninsula, part of the wider study of the Hoo Peninsula. The report states that this is 'A Second World War Type 24 infantry pillbox, constructed of reinforced concrete and brick shuttering, to the east of Bells Lane and south of Ratcliffe Highway, north east of Hoo St Werburgh. It has no brichwork above the embrasures. The pillbox was visible on aerial photographs of 2013 and seen on a field visit in 2014. It is in a fair condition and is listed at Grade II, NHLE 1391937'. (4)

11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, 08/01/41, War diary. (Collection). Ske14308.

MMRG, 11/05/06, Pillbox Type 24 (Collection). Ske14653.

<1> MMRG, 11/05/06, Pillbox Type 24 (Collection). SKE14653.

<2> 11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, 08/01/41, War diary. (Collection). SKE14308.

<3> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<4> 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.