Finally my third and last report for the area i visited. Starting off a Dipley, listed are two pillboxes (a type 24 behind Dipley Mill and one in the grounds of the old Mill pub. The pub is now closed and a private residence and i shall endeavour to get to these this week when i go out next. The dragons teeth were easy as they were sat right on the south right bank and immediately behind the entrance gate. One of the teeth is actually partially obscuring the entrance so that was a great surprise. The bank of the river has been well maintained and consists of a manicured lawn and garden flowers.
ANTI TANK PIMPLE: S0011177
Listed as 5 AT pimples/dragons teeth and of the five i could see three - two of which were heavily covered in ivy but you could make out the outline.
A very early start the next morning was made once there was sufficient light to safely cross the boggy woodland to the rear fields behind Dipley Copse. Marked up and eventually found were 7 pillboxes which were in varying states. Some were easy to get to if covered, some were completely covered and as a result i failed to get to one despite my efforts to cut through the brambles, and the other was only possible to see from one side of a hedgerow and completely covered and inaccessible from the other side. The others i managed to cut my way in using my trust secateurs which are now a vital part of my equipment. Hating brambles and hawthorn bushes with a vengeance, i can tolerate the nettles but not getting snagged up.
Still dawn was breaking through and judging by the grey solid sky i knew that the day would be cut short due to rain. I eventually finished up around 10.30 and made my way home.
Running in a line of trees are three pillboxes before the surrounds open up into fields where there is an extended line of 4 pillboxes. Onto the first of those three:
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011201
Completely covered up and it was only using my torch that i manages to locate the pillbox hidden in the gloom of the hawthorn, nettles and ivy. I managed to cut a crawl hole for me to get in and just took the torch and camera with me.
Slugs and snails were everywhere in these pillboxes. It didn't help having a stream running just behind the pillboxes.
The only real view of the exterior. The rest was impossible to view due to the mature bushes and trees growing around the pillbox.
Cammo mount.
PILLBOX: S0011172
The DoB states this is unclassified, and referring to my small plan it has an X shaped AT wall, three embrasures and is square in shape. This is not a small pillbox as you can see. The exterior brick shuttering is splitting away due to the usual passage of time and trees taking root anywhere they can. I cannot seem to tie it into a pillbox design so will opt for a cop out of type 26 variant. The design of this pillbox is unique to the GHQ line.
Further cutting away finally exposed the embrasure.
Deep shelving for an LMG to comfortably sit on.
The area was covered in spent clay pigeons. Further along the line of pillboxes and up the hill was a clay pigeon club and the area was smothered. There was a skip full of spent shotgun shells but luckily no one was mad enough to be around at 5 in the morning.
PILLBOX: S0011200
The exterior was only possible to view from the side and rear.
Crossing the field and getting to the location of a type 24 S0011171 which was completely covered with brambles, i cut my was though 2ft of brambles before it beat me. I still could not see a hint of brickwork to encourage me to carry on. This pillbox is set low in the ground so that didn't help me to wade through to get onto the roof of the pillbox. This one had me beat for now. I shall return with heavier cutters to give it another go. I then walked across to the other pillbox which thankfully was just surrounded with head height ferns and nettles - an easier option of just wading through and kicking back the ferns around the shuttering.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011173
Success at last.
The view of both pillboxes. S0011171is to the right of the picture.
Walking up along the track and sat in the line of trees to the left of the field.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011203
Again so heavily overgrown but i was glad i managed to get inside. Some nice little period features still remain.
After a little clean up.
Again the shuttering has fallen away and crumbled in some areas. Very fragile!
Walking up the track and following the track around as if heading up towards Damale's Farm is another type 24 sat facing across the adjacent field. This is too heavily overgrown again to attempt to get through.
The pillbox is to the right in that clump of overgrowth.
I then walked back to where i had originally spotted the pillbox. Running behind the pillbox is a steep banked stream and as it was raining at this point i took the photo and decided to make my way home.
ANTI TANK PIMPLE: S0011177
Listed as 5 AT pimples/dragons teeth and of the five i could see three - two of which were heavily covered in ivy but you could make out the outline.
A very early start the next morning was made once there was sufficient light to safely cross the boggy woodland to the rear fields behind Dipley Copse. Marked up and eventually found were 7 pillboxes which were in varying states. Some were easy to get to if covered, some were completely covered and as a result i failed to get to one despite my efforts to cut through the brambles, and the other was only possible to see from one side of a hedgerow and completely covered and inaccessible from the other side. The others i managed to cut my way in using my trust secateurs which are now a vital part of my equipment. Hating brambles and hawthorn bushes with a vengeance, i can tolerate the nettles but not getting snagged up.
Still dawn was breaking through and judging by the grey solid sky i knew that the day would be cut short due to rain. I eventually finished up around 10.30 and made my way home.
Running in a line of trees are three pillboxes before the surrounds open up into fields where there is an extended line of 4 pillboxes. Onto the first of those three:
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011201
Completely covered up and it was only using my torch that i manages to locate the pillbox hidden in the gloom of the hawthorn, nettles and ivy. I managed to cut a crawl hole for me to get in and just took the torch and camera with me.
Slugs and snails were everywhere in these pillboxes. It didn't help having a stream running just behind the pillboxes.
The only real view of the exterior. The rest was impossible to view due to the mature bushes and trees growing around the pillbox.
Cammo mount.
PILLBOX: S0011172
The DoB states this is unclassified, and referring to my small plan it has an X shaped AT wall, three embrasures and is square in shape. This is not a small pillbox as you can see. The exterior brick shuttering is splitting away due to the usual passage of time and trees taking root anywhere they can. I cannot seem to tie it into a pillbox design so will opt for a cop out of type 26 variant. The design of this pillbox is unique to the GHQ line.
Further cutting away finally exposed the embrasure.
Deep shelving for an LMG to comfortably sit on.
The area was covered in spent clay pigeons. Further along the line of pillboxes and up the hill was a clay pigeon club and the area was smothered. There was a skip full of spent shotgun shells but luckily no one was mad enough to be around at 5 in the morning.
PILLBOX: S0011200
The exterior was only possible to view from the side and rear.
Crossing the field and getting to the location of a type 24 S0011171 which was completely covered with brambles, i cut my was though 2ft of brambles before it beat me. I still could not see a hint of brickwork to encourage me to carry on. This pillbox is set low in the ground so that didn't help me to wade through to get onto the roof of the pillbox. This one had me beat for now. I shall return with heavier cutters to give it another go. I then walked across to the other pillbox which thankfully was just surrounded with head height ferns and nettles - an easier option of just wading through and kicking back the ferns around the shuttering.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011173
Success at last.
The view of both pillboxes. S0011171is to the right of the picture.
Walking up along the track and sat in the line of trees to the left of the field.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011203
Again so heavily overgrown but i was glad i managed to get inside. Some nice little period features still remain.
After a little clean up.
Again the shuttering has fallen away and crumbled in some areas. Very fragile!
Walking up the track and following the track around as if heading up towards Damale's Farm is another type 24 sat facing across the adjacent field. This is too heavily overgrown again to attempt to get through.
The pillbox is to the right in that clump of overgrowth.
I then walked back to where i had originally spotted the pillbox. Running behind the pillbox is a steep banked stream and as it was raining at this point i took the photo and decided to make my way home.
I agree with you i am addicted to it, slightly mad on occasion but i love getting out there in my spare time.
