World War One Pillbox, SW corner of Bath House Meadow, Walton-on-the-Naze (EHER 46954)

This First World War pillbox is the only known survivor of such a structure from that period so far discovered in Essex. This pillbox is likely to have been reused during World War Two.

Standing behind dacoit fencing, in the corner of school grounds east of Saville Street is a rarely surviving World War One pillbox. It is circular, built of concrete blocks cemented together, with an overhanging concrete roof on top. The roof is 13' 3" in diameter, 4" thick and domed. The overhang is 6". The height of the walls is around 5'' to 6". Each block measures around 9" x 8". There are three loopholes which fan out from 6" square to 22" x 10". The thickness of the walls is 13". The low entrance is on the SW side, the fire of the pillbox concentrating on the open ground to the NE. The entrance measures 40" high x 25" wide, sealed with double steel doors, barred and padlocked. Through the loopholes, it appears that the roof is supported not only by the walls but also by steel cross-girders. The inner shuttering of the roof was corrugated iron sheeting. There is no central pillar as in the majority of World War Two pillboxes. In the centre of the roof can be seen a hole, around 7" across, which may have been for a periscope. There is a lot of cracking both between the blocks in the walls and in parts of the roof. This pillbox, and another which stood 200 yards to the NE (EHER 46955) can be seen, labelled, on 1922 3rd Edition OS Maps. <1> 1946 aerial photographs show them still standing although the NE example has now gone (EHER 46955). <2> It appears likely that they would have been included in the WWII defence plans which are otherwise detailed in contemporary records for this area. <3> Ten photos of site. <4> Site visit by F. Nash, 2012: With hundreds of World War Two pillboxes recorded in Essex, this is the sole surviving World War One example so far discovered. It is very likely that it is indeed the last remaining and as such it is in the top level of site grading. Every effort should be made to ensure its continued survival ultimately to Scheduled Monument status. It is recommended that a structural evaluation be made as soon as possible.