Second World War pillbox, north of Thaxted Road, Debden (EHER 21528)

On the north side of Thaxted Road stands a large, 19’ 6” wide hexagonal pillbox. It is a Second World War type 22 pillbox located at the former Debden airfield, now Carver Barracks. It was thought to have been built in the period 1940-1941, and is constructed from brick and concrete. The entrance is gained via a short passage made through the thickness of the wall. Internally the anti-ricochet wall and some of the machine gun mountings (known as Turnbull mountings) survive. In 1997 the pillbox was said to be in good condition.

On the north side of Thaxted Road stands a large, 19’ 6” wide hexagonal pillbox. It is built of brick and concrete although much of the brickwork has now fallen off, the low crawl-in entrance is on the west corner and there are loopholes in each of the six sides. These are distinctly flared, stepping out widely. Five of them are fitted out for Turnbull machine-gun cradles, all of which, very unusually, still survive. There is a central Y-shaped pillar to prevent in-coming bullets from ricocheting around inside. On the pillar facing the entrance, the number “3” has been stencilled in black paint. Oddly, there are four steel hooks hanging from the ceiling close to the pillar. It is not known what the purpose of these would be. Ten photos of site. <1> NRHE data transfer: A type 22 pillbox at the former Debden airfield, Debden (sic- actually in Wimbish civil parish), now Carver Barracks. It was thought to have been built in the period 1940-1941, and is constructed from brick and concrete. The entrance is gained via a short passage made through the thickness of the wall. Internally the anti-ricochet wall and some of the Turnbull mountings) survive. In 1997 the pillbox was said to be in good condition. The pillbox formed part of the airfield's defences and was situated at the intersection of the runways. <2>