Pillboxes around RAF Henlow

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snap_happy

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As i manage to locate each one i shall add some photos to this thread.

First off the Type FW3/22 at Grid Referance TL 1566 3769 opposite what is now called the Airman pub no longer remains, i have had a good look and there is no remains there.

Next we move east to another FW3/22 at Grid Referance TL 1643 3775 which remains amasingly intact with only a few packs of cigarettes scatterd around despite being so easy to reach as its next to a main road. On with the photos. Please note i have been very carefull to show as little as possible of the active RAF Airfield behind the Pilbox:
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And a view back to the road:
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Moving inside i was amased to find this writing survives:
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And some general views inside, first of all from one of the slots covering the road:
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Next up i will be attempting to find some of the more remote ones, there are at least one i will not be able to gain acsess to sadly.
 
Me too, this should clear up a number of unknowns. There may be a few unrecorded ones lurking around too so keep your eyes peeled snap happy.
 
Rather than starting another thread as these are all guarding the same airfield i thought i would add them here. There is only two Pillboxes left for me to do now, one of which is in a field and may survive and the other is in a fenced compound and i might go and ask on the off chance then can still confirm it exists.

Moving south from the last missing one we come to S008445 a Type 22 which is just behind the dog racing track:
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Just a few mins drive away is S0008446 a type 22 Pillbox which is very visable from the road:
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This tag was everywhere inside:
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And the door hinges where still there:
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Next we move past the camp and to a pair of pillboxes to the south east. First off S0008449 which was a Type 22 which i can confirm has long gone.

Next we come to S0008450 a type 22 and this is all that remains of it, this is in the copse of trees near the location on the google earth overlay:
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I didnt make it to S0000451 but i will go and see if it remains next week and post a photo if so.

Last but not least we come to S008452 a type 22 which is in immaculate condition as can be seen, im guessing being right next to an active RAF base complete with police helicopter stationed there puts off the undesirables. I had to hide twice inside to avoid being spotted by aeroplanes taking off:
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The wooden door here i dont know if its origional or not but its amasing it still survives:
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Two slits where blocked up:
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Some writing inside survives:
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Thank you for looking.
 
nice one snap am not sure about the wooden door being original myself as the bricks on the floor behind it look too new and I always thought the doors were made from metal but saying that there is a gun emplacement at Bambrough, overlooking the Farne Islands, that has remains of its original wooden door in place... anyway keep them coming
 
Great job snap.

I agree with Jonney about the doors, but there's a small chance they are original. The Air ministry pillboxes were often modified.
 

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