Old Pillboxes / WW2 Defenses, RSPB Titchwell - May '09

cardiffrail · May 4, 2009

Went birding over the weekend with my partner and went to RSPB Titchwell on the Norfolk coast. The area was traditionally farmland, however as part of anti-invasion plans in the war, some coastal land was partly flooded, and an extensive array of defenses was constructed. Within the RSPB site itself are at least 3 pillboxes, and a further structure on the beach. The first pillbox is adjacent the the path leading to the big hide, the northern side of which is visible, the second is buried beneath the trail leading to the sea - only the square concrete roof is visible and the third is just behind the dunes, and is partly flooded. The structure on the beach is straight on from the end of the footpath. There is also some brickwork visible in the lagoons, making conveinient perching sites for birds.

There is no interior access to any of the boxes, and apparently are regularly used by birds for nesting and roosting.

Apparently, there are also some 'tanks' visible buried in the beach at low tide - whether these are the tracked kind or the kind used for holding liquids I am not sure as the tide was not low enough when we went. The structures in the beach were all originally on land but have ended up in the sea due to coastal erosion.

Remains of a submerged forest - submerged by post-glacial sea level rise area also visible at low tide.

Pillbox by hide