Site of Second World War Pillbox, beach, opposite Haven Avenue, Holland-on-Sea (EHER 10791)
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Summary
A type FW3/22 pillbox, now destroyed.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | TM 2128 1675 (point) |
|---|
Type and Period
Description
WWII Defence of Essex survey
A low level aerial photograph taken in 1948 shows a type FW3/22 pillbox standing at the back of the beach opposite the end of Haven Avenue. The entrance is on the north face and it appears to have a protective skirt of concrete. By 1960 the promenade had been built across the site of the pillbox. <1> <2> <3>
WWII defence of Clacton survey <7>
Something of the life of this pillbox can now be determined. A ground-level photograph taken in 1942 shows it on top of the cliff, camouflaged beneath a wooden, open-sided ‘tea room’ or ‘bungalow’ structure. <4> An aerial photograph dated July 1946 shows this structure on the cliff edge. <5> A second ground-level photograph shows the pillbox, an FW3/22 with protective ‘skirt’, now minus its camouflage, teetering on the edge. The caption states that it fell over shortly afterwards. The date is given as 1947. <6>
Sources
- <1> SEX61263 Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1948. 58-89-5079.
- <2> SEX31431 Bibliographic reference: Wills, H.. 1985. Pillboxes: A Study of U.K. Defences 1940. p.28.
- <3> SEX61264 Aerial Photograph: Hunting Surveys Limited. 1960. Run 19-085.
- <4> SEX67860 DESC TEXT: Kennell, R.. 2003. The Story of Holland-on-Sea during the Second World War. photo, p.25, 1942, via TDC.
- <5> SEX61266 Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. 106G-UK 1673-4052. July 1946.
- <6> SEX67860 DESC TEXT: Kennell, R.. 2003. The Story of Holland-on-Sea during the Second World War. photo, p.27, 1947, via TDC.
- <7> SEX70635 DESC TEXT: Clacton VCH Group. 2008. Survey of World War Defences of Clacton.