Second World War pillbox, north of River Crouch, Battlesbridge (EHER 20141)

A variant Second World War concrete and corrugated steel pillbox form described as an Eastern Command type. It has a square plan and is located between the Shotgate nature reserve and the A130 road.

In the middle of a field some 300 yards north of the River Crouch, is a concrete, 14’ x 15’, rectangular pillbox with a blast wall. An aerial photograph taken in 1946 shows that this pillbox then stood on the south side of a hedge which crossed the field. It faced ESE across the anti-tank ditch which crossed from the river at TQ 7716 9400 (EHER 20139) to the Railway Barrier at TQ 7726 9458 (EHER 20143). <1> One photo of site. <2> NRHE data transfer: Square plan. Of the four walls only three contain embrasures, blast wall covers entrance and has an embrasure. Pillbox sits on concrete raft. Roof was constructed with the assistance of corrugated steel shuttering. Pillbox variant. Described as an Eastern Command Type in 'Ironside's Line'. Battlesbridge. <3>