Second World War Pillbox, South of Broomfield Mill (EHER 10872)
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Summary
An FW3/28A 2-pounder artillery pillbox.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TL 7132 1005 (8m by 7m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | BROOMFIELD, CHELMSFORD, ESSEX |
Type and Period
Description
On the E side of a drainage ditch, facing NNE across a field towards Mill Lane bridge, is an FW3/28A 2-pounder artillery pillbox. It is constructed of concrete and stands on a large concrete raft raised slightly above ground level. The bren gun chamber is at its W end and, inside, some of the corrugated iron sheeting used as shuttering still remains although this is badly rusted and is coming off the walls. <1>
On the roof there are small piles of concrete intended to break up the straight outline. An aerial photograph taken in 1946 shows there to have been at that time a hedge line running from behind the pillbox E to the R. Chelmer. <2>
Five photos of site. <3> <4>
Information from NRHE
Type 28a anti-tank gun emplacement.
Pillbox in hedge on West side of meadows.
LOCATION: Brooklands Fields, off Mill Lane, E of Broomfield. <5> <6>
Note: This pillbox was initially mislocated by the Defence of Britain Survey to the location of EHER 10871, its location has now been corrected within the database. <3>
Sources
- <1> SEX31431 Bibliographic reference: Wills, H.. 1985. Pillboxes: A Study of U.K. Defences 1940.
- <2> SEX61718 Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. 1785-5229.
- <3> SEX61720 Photograph: Nash, F.. 1997. Photograph of Pillbox 10872.
- <4> SEX70625 Report: Nash, F.. 2008. Survey of World War Defences in the Borough Chelmsford: Volume One.
- <5> SEX75761 Field Survey Report: Council for British Archaeology. 1995-2002. The Defence of Britain Project.
- <6> SEX75778 Collection: Various. Various. Historic England Archive. DEB01.
Other References
- NRHE identifier: 1421938
- National Monuments Record: TL 71 SW 50