Second World War Pillbox, South side of Church Road (EHER 20187)

A Type FW3/24 pillbox is standing at the edge of a field, a few yards to the S of the road from the A130 to West Hanningfield.

Site visit 1999 Standing at the edge of a field, a few yards to the S of the road from the A130 to West Hanningfield, is a “thin-walled”, brick and concrete, Type FW3/24 pillbox. It faces E towards the former path of the GHQ Line anti-tank ditch some 350 yards away and was probably sited here as protection on the rear of the line against attack by paratroopers. <1> One photo of site. <2> January 2008 This pillbox was threatened by the construction of the A130 by-pass in the early 2000's, but in the event it was saved by diverting a small stream and re-positioning a culvert. Now the pillbox stands on a small "island" by the SW corner of Exchange Bridge, just 10 yards away from the hard shoulder of the by-pass. Information from NRHE Type 24 [type 22] brick clad concrete pillbox, five embrasures, entrance in longest wall covered by further two embrasures. There are brick arches over embrasures similar to those found above windows in old houses [possible camouflage feature]. Anti ricochet wall intact. Type 22 pillbox. LOCATION: W of Hanningfield cross roads <3> <4> Note: The Defence of Britain database initially miss-identified this pillbox as a type 22, this has now been corrected. <3>