Pillboxes along the Thames
- Thread starter night crawler
- Start date
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That area is next on the list but thanks for the conformation
Bit of a revisit here
Something I did not notice last time I was here the rear embrasure
These are the ones faceing the river
the rear
And a look inside. I think I iupladed the wrong photo but I'll check later.
Something I did not notice last time I was here the rear embrasure
These are the ones faceing the river
the rear
And a look inside. I think I iupladed the wrong photo but I'll check later.
Some new ones for you and an updated old one. This time I did a section from Shillingford to Dorchester.
Just upstream from Shillingford bridge, access down a lane and over into a riverside meadow which is a private fishing.
Stingers are starting to grow up around it now and it is becoming quite well hidden.
This one is just off the main road before you get to the Dorchester turn off. You can see the top if you walk by it but it is a busy main road. It lies about 100 meters back from the Thames
Front view and you can see bars inside as it's used to keep cattle in from time to time
As you can see some of the rebar is showing.
Next one I did a while ago and is just down from the Warborough roundabout on the Shillingford side. It is in a private fishery and the owner was kind enough to let me take some photos and also told me a tram slept over in the place from time to time.
Last time I was here it was early morning least it is clear in this photo.
Entrance
Main loophole and the trees in front of it
This one is at Little Wittenham just along a farm track. In the foreground are some road blocks and in the distance you can make out the loophole of the pillbox.
It's pretty well part of the hedge now and at some time it was used for storage as there is all sorts of rubbish in it.
That looks like a big copper tank in the back of the box but the picture does show the casting marks caused by using corrugated iron
The whole side is covered in ivy and even the back is that way so the entrance is almost hidden.
Just upstream from Shillingford bridge, access down a lane and over into a riverside meadow which is a private fishing.
Stingers are starting to grow up around it now and it is becoming quite well hidden.
This one is just off the main road before you get to the Dorchester turn off. You can see the top if you walk by it but it is a busy main road. It lies about 100 meters back from the Thames
Front view and you can see bars inside as it's used to keep cattle in from time to time
As you can see some of the rebar is showing.
Next one I did a while ago and is just down from the Warborough roundabout on the Shillingford side. It is in a private fishery and the owner was kind enough to let me take some photos and also told me a tram slept over in the place from time to time.
Last time I was here it was early morning least it is clear in this photo.
Entrance
Main loophole and the trees in front of it
This one is at Little Wittenham just along a farm track. In the foreground are some road blocks and in the distance you can make out the loophole of the pillbox.
It's pretty well part of the hedge now and at some time it was used for storage as there is all sorts of rubbish in it.
That looks like a big copper tank in the back of the box but the picture does show the casting marks caused by using corrugated iron
The whole side is covered in ivy and even the back is that way so the entrance is almost hidden.
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Hope you guy's are not getting bored with all these photo's I have been putting up. More round the area of the last one.
This one can be seen from the lane near the last pillbox just up from the road blocks.
And here it is. There is supost to be a footpath leading to it but that seems to have disapeared.
Main loophole with nettles growing up infront.
Entrance
To the left of this photo is a deep ditch which I think could have been part of the anti tank dich that run round here in the war.
Inside is clean but looks like it could have been used for cattle at some time.
View looking towards the roadblocks and other pillbox wich are in the distance beond the clump of trees in the distance.
Side view of th epillbox
Looking at the pillbox with the ditch to the side.
Will post some of the next box later.
This one can be seen from the lane near the last pillbox just up from the road blocks.
And here it is. There is supost to be a footpath leading to it but that seems to have disapeared.
Main loophole with nettles growing up infront.
Entrance
To the left of this photo is a deep ditch which I think could have been part of the anti tank dich that run round here in the war.
Inside is clean but looks like it could have been used for cattle at some time.
View looking towards the roadblocks and other pillbox wich are in the distance beond the clump of trees in the distance.
Side view of th epillbox
Looking at the pillbox with the ditch to the side.
Will post some of the next box later.
tigger2
Well-known member
Bored? No way! Excellent series and long may it continue.
Right last ones . This is a brick Pillbox near a farm at the back of Little Whittenham manor it is well hidden in a hedgegrow and nettles.
This is how you see the box as you com eup to it.
Here you can make out the entrance
View of the main loophole, the floor as you can see is covered in dirt from farm use.
One of the smaller loopholes.
Looking at the main loophole
Taken from by the ditch in fron if the pillbox.
I'll end with this one which I am told is a loophole on the corner of teh wall at Little Whittenham manor.
I took a photo of the inside as well but could not confirm if it was as I did not talk to the owner (Sir Martin Wood) due to one of the gardners showed it to me.
This is how you see the box as you com eup to it.
Here you can make out the entrance
View of the main loophole, the floor as you can see is covered in dirt from farm use.
One of the smaller loopholes.
Looking at the main loophole
Taken from by the ditch in fron if the pillbox.
I'll end with this one which I am told is a loophole on the corner of teh wall at Little Whittenham manor.
I took a photo of the inside as well but could not confirm if it was as I did not talk to the owner (Sir Martin Wood) due to one of the gardners showed it to me.
Well done Mr Crawler !! Your sixth sense for spotting pillboxes is becoming legendary !! I salute you,keep it up as this is a good thread that one day might stretch the entire length of the river !!!
Thames pillboxes
Thoroughly enjoyable and informative thread keep up the excellent work,cheers Simon
Thoroughly enjoyable and informative thread keep up the excellent work,cheers Simon
Another three to add to the list and I am really chuffed with the first one. It has been eluding me for a while as on Defence of Britain it tells you it's in the grounds of Benson Marina. Damned if I could see any thing till I drove past the place and saw it's top.
It's completely covered in ivy and surrounded by a fence, caravans and a shed, no wonder it is not visible.
Could not get on the inside but might pop back some time.
The next one is Days lock on the river Thames near little Whittenham.
View through the loophole. I think it looks towards another pillbox in the distance.
Number on the entrance
Quite clean inside
Tranquil setting
This was the first one I visited on this day and is the opposite end of what is called the dike hills at Dorchester. Sat on a really big plinth and in good condition well
Looking at the main loophole
Another clean one with some graffiti inside
Entrance
As you first see the pillbox from the footpth
That is the last from round the area near where I live then nest ones will come from towards Abingdon.
I know I have starte dthe thread but plaese if any one else has photo's from pillboxes along the thames then add them by all means. Face it I can't see myself getting to all the pillboxes that still line the Thames.
It's completely covered in ivy and surrounded by a fence, caravans and a shed, no wonder it is not visible.
Could not get on the inside but might pop back some time.
The next one is Days lock on the river Thames near little Whittenham.
View through the loophole. I think it looks towards another pillbox in the distance.
Number on the entrance
Quite clean inside
Tranquil setting
This was the first one I visited on this day and is the opposite end of what is called the dike hills at Dorchester. Sat on a really big plinth and in good condition well
Looking at the main loophole
Another clean one with some graffiti inside
Entrance
As you first see the pillbox from the footpth
That is the last from round the area near where I live then nest ones will come from towards Abingdon.
I know I have starte dthe thread but plaese if any one else has photo's from pillboxes along the thames then add them by all means. Face it I can't see myself getting to all the pillboxes that still line the Thames.
Bit of an update on things. Todate I have taken photo's or visited around 42 pillboxes (sad person) and the other day I went looking for them arond Moulsford to Cleeve lock down from Goring. I knew this might have been a long shot due to it's a well walked path and I had seen no photos. There should have been a gun emplacement but after walking the towpath and looking into hedges and gardens I came back with nothing coming to the conclusion that the pipeline whch had been rund throughthat area had also taken out the emplacement. Next day I walked the ridge way path from South stoke to Cleeve on the opposite side and again after some promiceing looking places came back with nothing. The lates bit of news I have been given was that one of them was buried around 35 years ago though I still have to confirm this. Considering the amount of money liveing round there this would not supprise me if your house is at least a million your a pauper and most have river frontage so the pillbox spoiling the view would have been th efirst thing to go. Hopefully in the next updat I will have some new photo's though it will be a bit further along the river.
Ahh, I wondered where that one was in Benson Marina, well done for finding it matey!
Well here is another couple to fill is teh spaces I missed round the area.
This is the other at Mongewell (carmel college) and as I suspected bricked up compleatley proably by the college owners. Shame really.
And this one I have been after for a while as it's at Howbury park Crowmarsh, Fluffy said it was there and it was hidden behind some trees. I will have to look from the opposite side now I know whereit is. I works at the palce for 4 years and never realised it was there.
Door with pistol loophole, not usual on the ones around here.
Have a seat guy's
And a drink for that matter
Trting out the new camera through the loophole
Can even get the net in there.
The access to this one at Howbury is down to when the place is open to the public though I think there could be another way. I'll be posting some more photo's of the place on Flickr later.
This is the other at Mongewell (carmel college) and as I suspected bricked up compleatley proably by the college owners. Shame really.
And this one I have been after for a while as it's at Howbury park Crowmarsh, Fluffy said it was there and it was hidden behind some trees. I will have to look from the opposite side now I know whereit is. I works at the palce for 4 years and never realised it was there.
Door with pistol loophole, not usual on the ones around here.
Have a seat guy's
And a drink for that matter
Trting out the new camera through the loophole
Can even get the net in there.
The access to this one at Howbury is down to when the place is open to the public though I think there could be another way. I'll be posting some more photo's of the place on Flickr later.
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Little bit of an update on some pillboxes round the Moulsford/Goring area. I have now been informed that the one outside Moulsford was demolished down to the base back in the 1990's, since then a new pipeline has been run through the area and the base was distroyed so no trace is left. There was another on an Island near Goring lock but that was demolished when they extended the weir there. Hopefully I will be on to more in the near furure
Not been up to much other than looking at the map but I noticed this one near Pangbourn a while ago though it seems to be a little way off the place I have marked. This one is nearly the last before the line turns right and I have yet to work out how to get down to see it. The photo was taken from the opposite side of the Thames and you can just make out the loophole between the trees.
Hopefully the next lot of photo's will be a little clearer.
Hopefully the next lot of photo's will be a little clearer.
Bit of an update. Over the weekend I took photos of pillboxes at the other end of the stretch at Culham. I think this is the extent of the boxes which run along the Thames befor it turns cross country at Abingdon. The pill boxes at Abingdon will most likly have been demolised due to there being a houseing estate there now. Will post photo's later.
Ok let go with some photo's to get these I had to walk about 2km alongthe Thames path from Culham lock and are just up the rail embankment from the Appleford rail bridge over the Thames. The white building you see is the Jet project.
Looking at the plilbox from the Path
Front view
Looking along the back, had to go through the loophole as the stingers were too high
This was interesting Stalactites forming stalagmites
General debris
Newspaper
Vowing the pillbox in relation to the rail bridge and embankment
Coming up along the field edge
Side view
Entrance
Inside, note the roof
Roof
Some of the rust in the Corrugated iron uesd in casting
The last few showed the corrugated iron used in the casting process which though I knew they used I was supprised to see still in place.
I have three other boxes to upload late
Looking at the plilbox from the Path
Front view
Looking along the back, had to go through the loophole as the stingers were too high
This was interesting Stalactites forming stalagmites
General debris
Newspaper
Vowing the pillbox in relation to the rail bridge and embankment
Coming up along the field edge
Side view
Entrance
Inside, note the roof
Roof
Some of the rust in the Corrugated iron uesd in casting
The last few showed the corrugated iron used in the casting process which though I knew they used I was supprised to see still in place.
I have three other boxes to upload late
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Last three for now
Start with this one which was taken from a footpath that went from Culham to Sutton Cortney. I have yet to visit up close.
This one is a bit further along the further along the footpath to Sutton Courtney ald looks to have been made by the same crew who made the one along Cow Lane Marcham.
Side view of the pillbox
entrance is accessable
Untill you look inside and find it's full of muddy water
This was taken by holding the camera round the wall.
Last one is taken in Culham and is just outside the village near the 30 sign
It's in that lot
And that is the doorway
But this much does show that can be seen from the footpath. There are another couple on the area I have yet to locate or photograpgh. The photo I too of the last pillbox is the last one from the Thames befor it turns at Abingdon. There was one further along on th eopposite side of the river but as there is a housing estate there now I doub't it exists any more.
I still have a few between here and Pangburn to fill in with and they will be posted in due course
Start with this one which was taken from a footpath that went from Culham to Sutton Cortney. I have yet to visit up close.
This one is a bit further along the further along the footpath to Sutton Courtney ald looks to have been made by the same crew who made the one along Cow Lane Marcham.
Side view of the pillbox
entrance is accessable
Untill you look inside and find it's full of muddy water
This was taken by holding the camera round the wall.
Last one is taken in Culham and is just outside the village near the 30 sign
It's in that lot
And that is the doorway
But this much does show that can be seen from the footpath. There are another couple on the area I have yet to locate or photograpgh. The photo I too of the last pillbox is the last one from the Thames befor it turns at Abingdon. There was one further along on th eopposite side of the river but as there is a housing estate there now I doub't it exists any more.
I still have a few between here and Pangburn to fill in with and they will be posted in due course
