Second World War pillbox, Steeple Road, Latchingdon (EHER 20640)

A large Second World War hexagonal pillbox, loosely based on the type 22. It is brick-clad and faces Eastwards. It is located East of Latchingdon on the corner of a minor road that leads to Mayland.

November 2002-January 2003. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: site visit and desktop research On the South side of Steeple Road, East of Latchingdon village, stands a 'thick-walled', hexagonal pillbox. It is constructed of brick and concrete with a low entrance on the West side. Each of the equal-length faces has a small loophole and, on the top, a ventilation hole has a protective slab. 500 yards to the East, the anti-tank ditch of the 'Back Line' (EHER 20631) ran North-South across the fields. It is difficult to see how, from this distance, the pillbox could have aided in the defence of the line and it is probable that the siting was intended either as a standard village/town/nodal point defence, or as protection against a paratroop or glider attack on the flat fields immediately to the East of the town. This latter possibility is supported by the siting of a nearby Alan-Williams turret (EHER 20641), known to have been used in such defence. <1> Two photos. <2> NRHE data transfer: A large hexagonal pillbox, loosely based on the type 22. There is a square vent in the middle of the roof. It faces East. Brick-cladding. Creep-through entrance. A large hexagonal pillbox facing East with a creep-through entrance with 'concertina finish' to the concrete at the back, and the outermost wall is 2ft thick. The whole pillbox appears to be thick-walled, with a shelf below each embrasure (the walls are at least 2ft thick). There appears to be a chamber in the centre of the pillbox, probably hexagonal. In the centre on top of the roof is a square vent. LOCATION: East of Latchingdon, on the corner of a minor road that leads to Mayland, behind a hedge and adjacent to a Transco property. [with site location plan drawn on form]. <3> See also <4>.