Second World War pillbox, opposite Ricketts, north side of Elder Street, Wimbish (EHER 21518)

A Second World War type 22 pillbox located at the former Debden military airfield (now Carver Barracks). The pillbox is thought to have been built between 1940-1941 and formed part of RAF Debden's defences. It was situated at the south end of the shorter runway. A very unusual pillbox with the entrance through the floor.

In thicket on the north side of Elder Street is a very unusual pillbox. Like all those in the area, it was built as a direct defence against land attack on wartime Debden Airfield. An aerial photograph taken in July 1946 appears to show it as hexagonal. <1> It is brick-shuttered with large, stepped out loopholes indicative of thick, shell-proof walls. At least two loopholes had Turnbull machine-gun cradles, one of which still survives in position (on the west face). Viewed through a loophole there is no central pillar. The particularly unusual feature of this pillbox is its entrance. Leading off the W face are the half-collapsed remains of a corrugated iron-shuttered trench. This is perhaps 10 yards long, but may have been longer. This trench appears to lead under the concrete base of the pillbox. By holding a camera, facing downwards, through a loophole, a very clear square hole in the floor could be pictured. Through this hole the side of the trench is visible. Thus, access was through the floor. Although not apparent on the photograph, it probably once had a cover. Eleven photos of site. Site Assessment: Pillboxes accessed through the floor are very unusual. At the time of compiling this report only one or two seawall pillboxes in Essex are thought to have this feature. In addition, although pillboxes retaining the remains of Turnbull machine-gun mountings are not particularly unusual the survival of the steel cradle, along with others at Debden Airfield, is. The condition of the pillbox cannot be determined without extensive clearing of the thicket but with the historical importance of Debden Airfield during World War Two the statutory protection of the pillbox, and the remains of the trench, should be strongly considered. <2> NRHE data transfer: A type 22 pillbox at the former Debden military airfield, Debden (sic). The pillbox is thought to have been built between 1940-1941 and formed part of RAF Debden's defences. During an undated field visit by Defence of Britain Project recorders the pillbox was extant but a more detailed condition of the monument was not obtained. <3> Correction to the address given in <3>: the pillbox is in Wimbish Civil parish, not Debden. <4> The position of the pillbox described in <3> concords with a pillbox situated at the south end of the shorter runway, marked on a plan of RAF Debden as it appeared in 1947. Pillboxes are marked (PX) on the plan. <5>