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Time for a bit of WWII concrete porn. Our resident pillbox expert Rich Cooper has already covered this site very extensively but here’s my photographic take on the Freiston Shore and its World War II coastal defences. The light was fading on a day that the sun didn’t show its face once. Hence the lighting was really flat and I was wondering whether it was worth taking pictures at all. However, on reflection, I think that the dull, flat light actually suited the subject on this occasion. Anyhow, here’s the history bit.
Freiston Shore coastal battery is an ensemble of gun emplacements, observation posts, coastal artillery search lights and magazines on the coast due east of Boston, Lincolnshire. It was an emergency battery built during the Second World War as part of Northern Command's coastal defences. It was commissioned in May 1940 and armed with two 6-inch breech-loading MkVII naval guns. Records show it was in use up until September 1944. The two 6-inch gun emplacements retain their anti-strafing measures. A low-level battery observation post and coast artillery searchlights are still intact, as are two earth-protected magazines.
In 2000 The RSPB established their reserve here when the outer sea bank was breached helping to create additional salt marsh and help with flood defences.
Pillbox exterior:
img7541 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and the interior. Clean specimen this:
img7540 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Lincolnshire 3 bay pill box (thanks to Oldscrote for the correction):
img7548 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7561 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The gun emplacement. Rear view with blast wall, keyed to the roof by metal rods:
img7562 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7567 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Holdfast plate for the gun. 24 of the studs exist each being about 1in in diameter, 17 of these retain their nuts.
img7570 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Front elevation of the gun post:
img7546 by HughieDW, on Flickr
View out over the marshes:
img7566 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The blast wall again:
img7545bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7543bw by HughieDW, on Flickr
Inside one of the two earth-protected magazine buildings:
img7568 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and outside:
img7565 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7564 by HughieDW, on Flickr
The Searchlight post, side view looking South:
img7557 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and from the other side::
img7552 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7556 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7560 by HughieDW, on Flickr
…and another Lincolnshire 3 bay pillbox guarding a river bridge on the way back to Boston:
img7573 by HughieDW, on Flickr
img7574 by HughieDW, on Flickr
Freiston Shore coastal battery is an ensemble of gun emplacements, observation posts, coastal artillery search lights and magazines on the coast due east of Boston, Lincolnshire. It was an emergency battery built during the Second World War as part of Northern Command's coastal defences. It was commissioned in May 1940 and armed with two 6-inch breech-loading MkVII naval guns. Records show it was in use up until September 1944. The two 6-inch gun emplacements retain their anti-strafing measures. A low-level battery observation post and coast artillery searchlights are still intact, as are two earth-protected magazines.
In 2000 The RSPB established their reserve here when the outer sea bank was breached helping to create additional salt marsh and help with flood defences.
Pillbox exterior:
img7541 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and the interior. Clean specimen this:
img7540 by HughieDW, on FlickrLincolnshire 3 bay pill box (thanks to Oldscrote for the correction):
img7548 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7561 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe gun emplacement. Rear view with blast wall, keyed to the roof by metal rods:
img7562 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7567 by HughieDW, on FlickrHoldfast plate for the gun. 24 of the studs exist each being about 1in in diameter, 17 of these retain their nuts.
img7570 by HughieDW, on FlickrFront elevation of the gun post:
img7546 by HughieDW, on FlickrView out over the marshes:
img7566 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe blast wall again:
img7545bw by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7543bw by HughieDW, on FlickrInside one of the two earth-protected magazine buildings:
img7568 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and outside:
img7565 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7564 by HughieDW, on FlickrThe Searchlight post, side view looking South:
img7557 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and from the other side::
img7552 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7556 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7560 by HughieDW, on Flickr…and another Lincolnshire 3 bay pillbox guarding a river bridge on the way back to Boston:
img7573 by HughieDW, on Flickrimg7574 by HughieDW, on Flickr
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great place to visit
