Second World War pillbox at Bowers Hall (EHER 20093)
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Summary
An FW3/28A artillery pillbox positioned facing SSE to prevent enemy tanks using the railway line to breach the defences.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TQ 7518 8746 (9m by 7m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | BOWERS GIFFORD AND NORTH BENFLEET, BASILDON, ESSEX |
Type and Period
Description
The anti-tank ditch of the GHQ Line crossed the railway line at TQ 7517 8737 and headed north-eastwards up the hill towards Bowers Hall. 50 yards behind the line of the former ditch at the west edge of the field, stands an FW3/28A artillery pillbox positioned facing SSE to prevent enemy tanks using the railway line to breach the defences.
It was designed to accommodate a two-pounder anti-tank gun which would have been deployed with its wheels removed and the two side stays slotted into the recesses on each side of the main firing aperture. A spike on the trail of the gun would have been located in the hole in the centre of the floor. <1> <2>
This pattern of pillbox had a separate Bren-gun chamber and on this example it is on the west side of the main chamber. Two photos of site. <3>
NRHE data transfer:
Second World War Type 22 pillbox, Bowers Hall. <4>
Sources
- <1> SEX31431 Bibliographic reference: Wills, H.. 1985. Pillboxes: A Study of U.K. Defences 1940.
- <2> SEX61770 Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1946. 106G-UK 1563-3080. June 1946.
- <3> SEX61959 Photograph: Nash, F.. 1997. Pillbox, Bowers Hill, Bowers Gifford.
- <4> SEX76214 Webpage: Clarke, J.. 1996-2003. Defence of Britain Database.
Other References
- NRHE identifier: 1421870
- National Monuments Record: TQ 78 NE 30