WW2 Pillboxes UK

krela;10644; said:

Surely you mean iron? Lead not being known for it's strength

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Probably, though it was buckled and looked & felt just like the kind of leading you get in stained-glass windows.

Not sure what that would be but it certainly isn't reinforcing though!

You're absolutely right. Just realised I'd used the wrong word...should have said 'lining', not 'reinforcing'. Was about to change it when I saw your post!
Was just wondering why it would have been lined with it. The only other things I know about that were lead- lined were Roman coffins. Don't think it's that, though!
Cheers
Foxy

Foxylady;10647; said:

You're absolutely right. Just realised I'd used the wrong word...should have said 'lining', not 'reinforcing'. Was about to change it when I saw your post!
Was just wondering why it would have been lined with it. The only other things I know about that were lead- lined were Roman coffins. Don't think it's that, though!
Cheers
Foxy

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Aaaah, well water tanks pre 1980 were sometimes lead lined, could be that.

krela;10648; said:

Aaaah, well water tanks pre 1980 were sometimes lead lined, could be that.

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Wasn't sure what you meant until I saw the pic posted in the Bombing decoy thread of the water/fuel tank half-buried in a field (was thinking of the domestic house kind! ). Now that's actually what it looks like & could explain the mystery.
Cheers for that, Krela.
Foxy

Interesting stuff Foxy.
Look forward to seeing your pics.
I think this website is great for solving mysteries too -well done to Krela -a mine of information!

Lb

Foxylady you might find the link below of interest? On the Somerset Pillboxes website theres a page called countrywide, in this section are galleries and descriptions of pillboxes/defensive structures in Cornwall, Devon etc.

http://www.pillboxes-somerset.com/


B of B

Hi Bishop
Thankyou very much for that link. It's really nice to see the local ones, especially the one I took pics of yesterday; some useful information too, as some of them near me are getatable. Found out that I've seen the Whitford one from the bus, but didn't realise what it was. Will have to get my walking boots on again!
Cheers
Foxy

I am so excited! Forgot to look at the countrywide section that you mentioned, Bishop, so went back to the site. The structure that I thought may have been a lifeguard post, but could have originally been defence, was actually built as a Coastal Artillery Searchlight emplacement. Excellent!
The one that I found on Cliff Hill isn't on the site, but it is mentioned in ArchSearch. This is starting to get addictive!
Cheers
Foxy

Bishop;9957; said:

Found this link by chance, quite an interesting page on how
the Bren light machine gun was fixed into an embrasure.

http://www.nbcd.org.uk/blog/detail.asp?ID=92

B

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Thanks for linking to my blog Bishop!

I saw that page was getting traffic, traced it back to this site and joined up!

This thread is fascinating - it's good to see people taking an interest in pillboxes and posting photographs.

The Defence of Britain Database is an absolutely fantastic resource, but due to its size, images of every pillbox/defence work was an unrealistic expectation. The project is now closed anyway, but for me, seeing photographs gives a much clearer picture of what's out there.

I'm currently working on a database of pillboxes and defences in East Sussex/Kent, which will go live in a few weeks at http://www.pillbox.org.uk/ .

In the meantime, I have various pics posted in my blog at:

http://www.nbcd.org.uk/blog/detail.asp?ID=79 (Pett Emergency Coast Battery)
http://www.nbcd.org.uk/blog/detail.asp?ID=80 (Newhaven Defences)
http://www.nbcd.org.uk/blog/detail.asp?ID=109 (Pillbox Ballistics)
http://www.nbcd.org.uk/blog/archive.asp?category=Anti-invasion+defences (List of all my anti-invasion related posts)

Enjoy!

Hey gaspirator welcome to Derelict Places


Hahahaha, I saw you mention someone linking to your site on the welcome thread and figured it must be me, bit naughty of me sorry, but wow to see a Bren gun on its tripod fitted to an embrasure now thats cool.

Just started reading your blog and it makes facinating reading, the pillbox damaged by a 6pdr is excellent stuff, seems to me as though you've spent a lot of time outside and inside that one scratching your head. Now I'm no expert on such things but I can find nothing in your thoughts/theories to disagree with, as I said excellent stuff.

The Defence of Britain database, some areas are beautifully covered, lovely little write ups on each pillbox, accurate grid refs etc. Then other areas that still have a lot of remaining pillboxes/defences barely get a mention. Shame.

I look forward to reading more of your blog and I'll have a look at your pics over the weekend gaspirator.

B of B

Foxylady wrote.

The structure that I thought may have been a lifeguard post, but could have originally been defence, was actually built as a Coastal Artillery Searchlight emplacement. Excellent!
The one that I found on Cliff Hill isn't on the site, but it is mentioned in ArchSearch. This is starting to get addictive!

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Ah neat, I've seen coastal searchlight emplacements at Brean Down. I think on the Somerset pillboxes website he's got a pic of a preserved searchlight in its emplacement I think at Weymouth?

Addictive? Nah man nah, I'm cool, I ain't hooked or nothing. I could kick it.
Lol yeah its a weird one, I read this morning about a yellow brick clad Type 24 pillbox near the village of Rode, Somerset, I had to see it. Shame it hissed it down and with it being lambing season I couldn't get a close look. No matter I'll go back.



B

Bishop;10675; said:

Addictive? Nah man nah, I'm cool, I ain't hooked or nothing. I could kick it.
Lol yeah its a weird one, I read this morning about a yellow brick clad Type 24 pillbox near the village of Rode, Somerset, I had to see it. Shame it hissed it down and with it being lambing season I couldn't get a close look. No matter I'll go back.

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Lol . Nice one.
Yes, even though the guy's got some really nice pics of the ones near me, I still want to get my own & see them for myself.
Foxy

FL wrote.

Yes, even though the guy's got some really nice pics of the ones near me, I still want to get my own & see them for myself.

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Oh I can relate to that, you can't beat seeing one properly. Like Lightbuoy I'm looking forward to seeing your pictures.

B

There's an awareness in the back of my mind that this thread is now 8 pages long and possibly becoming a bit un-manageable.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we may be able to proceed with making this into a sensible resource?

Or is it okay the way it is?

Bishop;10674; said:

Hey gaspirator welcome to Derelict Places


Hahahaha, I saw you mention someone linking to your site on the welcome thread and figured it must be me, bit naughty of me sorry, but wow to see a Bren gun on its tripod fitted to an embrasure now thats cool.

Just started reading your blog and it makes facinating reading, the pillbox damaged by a 6pdr is excellent stuff, seems to me as though you've spent a lot of time outside and inside that one scratching your head. Now I'm no expert on such things but I can find nothing in your thoughts/theories to disagree with, as I said excellent stuff.

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Thanks for the compliments!

No worries about the link - it boosted my viewer stats and led me here!

The Bren itself was Photoshopped, although the tripod is genuinely in the photo - "death by cop" due to carrying a Bren around in public is not my idea of fun. Come to think of it, death by any means isn't high on my list of things to do before I die...hang on...

I was going to go back to the 6-pdr pillbox tomorrow, but I've got the lurgy - maybe next week.

As for the DoB database, yes there are gaps, but then I find it even more satisfying to find something that isn't listed...

A fantastic product of DoB was the Defence Areas Project; this was written up a book, Beaches, Fields, Streets and Hills by William Foot (2006) ; see my blog at: http://www.nbcd.org.uk/blog/detail.asp?ID=84

67 defended areas around the Uk are detailed, based on the DoB database and archive records - highly recommended!

Thanks again - enjoy the blog!

Pete

Lord Krela wrote.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we may be able to proceed with making this into a sensible resource?

Or is it okay the way it is?

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Good point. I guess we could start a new thread called pillboxes 07 or something? Only other thing I can think of is to weed the thread of posts that didn't really lead anywhere or where the photo links are dead? Just a few ideas.

b

Bishop;10675; said:

Foxylady wrote.



Ah neat, I've seen coastal searchlight emplacements at Brean Down. I think on the Somerset pillboxes website he's got a pic of a preserved searchlight in its emplacement I think at Weymouth?

Addictive? Nah man nah, I'm cool, I ain't hooked or nothing. I could kick it.
Lol yeah its a weird one, I read this morning about a yellow brick clad Type 24 pillbox near the village of Rode, Somerset, I had to see it. Shame it hissed it down and with it being lambing season I couldn't get a close look. No matter I'll go back.

B

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Nice cladding -i love it when a particular building or structure is made to look like something else! -now just trying to work out what the "something else" could be!!

Whilst looking through the pics for Hythe Station, I came across some pics of a well hidden pillbox next to the station, wedged between an advertisment board & bus stop sign! I'm guessing that they put one here to guard the railway & road? Anyway, hopefully you can see them below.........

Lb

Hey Mr Lightbuoy I (and probably a few others?) would love to see more pics of the pillbox at Hythe Station, reckon I'll have to have a quick look for it on the Defence of Britian database and see if I can find a description?

b