Pillboxes along the Thames
- Thread starter night crawler
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Right next one along is just off a new bridleway near Fairmile Hospital. You can park up in a layby and the bridleway is at the entance to it. Follow it along and you should see it on the left at the end.
Looking from the front.
Entrance ,duck your head to miss the branches.
A look out of the gunport
Gunports painted and some graffiti
This part is damaged, bit of vandalisim from what I can see.
Another shot of the inside.
Looking pastthe pillbox towards the Thames, there is anoother pillbox on the opposite side as well.
Looking from the front.
Entrance ,duck your head to miss the branches.
A look out of the gunport
Gunports painted and some graffiti
This part is damaged, bit of vandalisim from what I can see.
Another shot of the inside.
Looking pastthe pillbox towards the Thames, there is anoother pillbox on the opposite side as well.
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Few more. This one is on the opposite side of the Thames to the last and if you are walking along the Thames path you will have look closly in the summer as it is amost hidden.
I do intend to visit when I find how to acess it.
Next one is a gun emplacement back by the railway just down from the Road bridge at Moulsford. I walked past it a few times when I was looking for it as you can see from the first photo, well hidden. Only found it by chance when I went to Reading on the train and spotted it out the windo, managed to confime it on the way back when I went straight down and photgraphed it only to run out of battey power.
you sould just be able to see the outline in the trees.
Closer shot from the fence
That's it with this one as I need to go back and see if there is a gun mounting point in the centre.
I do intend to visit when I find how to acess it.
Next one is a gun emplacement back by the railway just down from the Road bridge at Moulsford. I walked past it a few times when I was looking for it as you can see from the first photo, well hidden. Only found it by chance when I went to Reading on the train and spotted it out the windo, managed to confime it on the way back when I went straight down and photgraphed it only to run out of battey power.
you sould just be able to see the outline in the trees.
Closer shot from the fence
That's it with this one as I need to go back and see if there is a gun mounting point in the centre.
I managed to visit the first one in my last post yesterday, bit od a struggle to get to but it was in good condition apart from a lot of sand in it from the flooding that takes place round here. I also note the foundations are being washed away by the river. Photo's to follow this week.
Ok next one along is at Bow bridge Cholsey. You can acess it from the old road where you will find a footpath leading along the brook there (nice old bridge there as well) till you reach the Thames turn left over the footbridge along the Thames path and it's on your left. In the summer is is almost invisable and from theriver no chance.
The entrance is in a private nature reserve so take care if your looking inside.
I have had a look inside it and it's in good condition and I have take a couple of photo's through the gunport so just have to upload them.
Next one is a bit further along on the North stoke side, so far I have just taken them from the opposite side of the river till I get a chance to go and visit the pillbox. It does look as though it is blocked up though.
As you can see it is behind an old willow tree.
The entrance is in a private nature reserve so take care if your looking inside.
I have had a look inside it and it's in good condition and I have take a couple of photo's through the gunport so just have to upload them.
Next one is a bit further along on the North stoke side, so far I have just taken them from the opposite side of the river till I get a chance to go and visit the pillbox. It does look as though it is blocked up though.
As you can see it is behind an old willow tree.
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Going back to the last but on on the previous page. I went over to North stoke to look for this and after following the footpath from the church just befor you come out into open fields you look to the left and you can just see the Pill box. Don't think you would have much cance in the summer.
This was taken after climbing over a 3ft fence and going through the undergrowth.
you have to cross some marsh ground to get to it and what looks like a phesent hatchery. I think it also might be in some ones back garden though ther place is well overgrown.
Brach has fallen over th e entrance and the foundations look as though they are getting washed way as well.
Inside is full of silt from flooding
Branches over the door
Presume this is a blast sheld in the doorway
Doorway with the brach over it. Note the block in the doorway, to help stop flooding the box maybe.
If you look carefull in the cetre photo you can just make out the pillbox on the opposite side.
I will endevor to take more of the boxes on this side of th eriver in the near future.
This was taken after climbing over a 3ft fence and going through the undergrowth.
you have to cross some marsh ground to get to it and what looks like a phesent hatchery. I think it also might be in some ones back garden though ther place is well overgrown.
Brach has fallen over th e entrance and the foundations look as though they are getting washed way as well.
Inside is full of silt from flooding
Branches over the door
Presume this is a blast sheld in the doorway
Doorway with the brach over it. Note the block in the doorway, to help stop flooding the box maybe.
If you look carefull in the cetre photo you can just make out the pillbox on the opposite side.
I will endevor to take more of the boxes on this side of th eriver in the near future.
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krela
Well-known member
They're called embrasures the holes for shooting out of, and the walls inside pillboxes are anti-ricochet walls to stop any enemy bullets that might get through from bouncing around too much. 
Great stuff night crawler
Great stuff night crawler
Right here are a few of the inside of the Bow Bridge Pillbox taken through the embrasures as I have found out they are called.
Looking at the anti-ricochet wall.
Over at one of the embrasures
Another embrasure one with part of the one my camera is in and the roof of the pillbox.
Looking at the anti-ricochet wall.
Over at one of the embrasures
Another embrasure one with part of the one my camera is in and the roof of the pillbox.
Ok goingto throw in a random one here. It's not on the river Thames it's at the elan resivior in Wales just above one of the dams. I took it with a teleiphoto lens from about half a mile away across one of the dams which reminds me I have some other interestin pictures to post from round there later.
Does not look easy to visit as the sides are steep.
Does not look easy to visit as the sides are steep.
Pillbox heaven! 
Love the last but one with the branch across the entrance.
The Elan Valley one is interesting, especially as the reservoir wouldn't have been there during WW2. It would be interesting to see a map from then, as to what the area was like, and how the defence system was deployed. Cool stuff!
Love the last but one with the branch across the entrance.The Elan Valley one is interesting, especially as the reservoir wouldn't have been there during WW2. It would be interesting to see a map from then, as to what the area was like, and how the defence system was deployed. Cool stuff!
Got news for you it was, it was built back in the 1800's to supply Birmingham, I have loads of photo's of the Dams.
Blimey! I thought it was built much later than that!
I stand corrected. That makes sense, then...protecting water resources. Cheers, Night crawler.
Next one a long near the new Winterbrook bridge over the Thames. You can also see it from there as well.
You will note it's a boathouse in the grounds of Carmel college. If you check on defence of Britian on Google earth you can see there is a defended building here. This is th eonly building I can see that looks like it could have been.
Check out the extention on the side of the boathouse. Id you see boathouses along the Thames they do not look like that, certanly from that era. It looks as though that has been added on.
Looking from this direction just makes me think it's the defended building. I will try and check it out some more at some stage.
You will note it's a boathouse in the grounds of Carmel college. If you check on defence of Britian on Google earth you can see there is a defended building here. This is th eonly building I can see that looks like it could have been.
Check out the extention on the side of the boathouse. Id you see boathouses along the Thames they do not look like that, certanly from that era. It looks as though that has been added on.
Looking from this direction just makes me think it's the defended building. I will try and check it out some more at some stage.
Yeah, nice idea for a thread. I like the pair of pillboxes sat in a back garden on the East bank of the Thames, just down from Benson Lock. Wouldn't mind owning that place!
I thought you may be interested in this, It'll help you find every last one of them.
EDIT: Apologies, I shouldve read your post more thoroughly!!!!
I thought you may be interested in this, It'll help you find every last one of them.
EDIT: Apologies, I shouldve read your post more thoroughly!!!!
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Oh yeah, and the boat house is the defended building. The embrasure runs the length of the windows on the extension you pointed out. It is set back inside the windows for camouflage
Wow, that boathouse is beautiful! And, it's a defended building! Imagine owning that!
Back to the world of dreams...
Back to the world of dreams...
I have been useing that site in conjunction with Google it helps pinpoint the area, all that is left is to look. The hardes was the gun emplacement by the railway that took ages and liek I said I only say it as I went past on the train.
Ps I'm wondering what is behind teh doors faceing the river.
Nice thread Mr Crawler !!
I too have checked out most of these Pillbox's but it is absolutely amazing what a differance the winter months make.When i last went during the wonderful summer(SARCASM)of 2008 i couldn't spot half of 'em.
I was absolutely convinced that the one on the west bank of Moulsford Viaduct didn't actually exist and was a mistake on the DOB database,so well done for finding that baby.!!!
On a more lighter note i also slipped arse over head on the flooded towpath and ended up plastered in mud from top to toe--much to the amusement of my 13 year old son and two OAP's that just happend to be passing !!
PS There is some good name engraving at the base of the viaduct, most of which is 100 yrs old plus.
GREAT THREAD--KEEP IT UP !!
I too have checked out most of these Pillbox's but it is absolutely amazing what a differance the winter months make.When i last went during the wonderful summer(SARCASM)of 2008 i couldn't spot half of 'em.
I was absolutely convinced that the one on the west bank of Moulsford Viaduct didn't actually exist and was a mistake on the DOB database,so well done for finding that baby.!!!
On a more lighter note i also slipped arse over head on the flooded towpath and ended up plastered in mud from top to toe--much to the amusement of my 13 year old son and two OAP's that just happend to be passing !!
PS There is some good name engraving at the base of the viaduct, most of which is 100 yrs old plus.
GREAT THREAD--KEEP IT UP !!
Well It odes help liveing round there, so you an't so far away.
