Second World War pillbox, Beacon Hill Fort (EHER 82271)

The site of a Second World War semi-circular reinforced concrete pillbox with 2 stepped embrasures and a covered porch at Beacon Hill Fort. It has a Lewis gun emplacement on the top. It has sides 3.7 metres externally, entered through a low passage 0.69 metres wide by 1.77 metres long by 1.15 metres high, with anti-ricochet rear wall. The interior is a hexagonal passage, whitewashed throughout, with embrasures in each side, all of which are of Bren-gun type. These are splayed internally and stepped externally, with rectangular boxes below for ammunition; some of the bolts for the gun mounting survive. A central hexagonal pillar is in fact hollow, and originally contained a small door into an Anti-Aircraft gun pit; but the door is blocked, the pit infilled, and the bolts of a holdfast for a secondary light Anti-Aircraft weapon are evident on top of the pillbox.

Information from NRHE Semi-circular pillbox with two stepped embrasures and a covered porch. It faces inland and there are no embrasures facing the sea. A hexagonal concrete pillbox, a type 27 variant with a Lewis gun emplacement on the top. It has sides 3.7m externally, entered through a low passage 0.69m wide by 1.77m long by 1.15m high, with anti-ricochet rear wall. The interior is a hexagonal passage, whitewashed throughout, with embrasures in each side, all of which are of Bren-gun type.: they are splayed internally and stepped externally, with rectangular boxes below for ammunition; some of the bolts for the gun mounting survive. A central hexagonal pillar is in fact hollow, and originally contained a small door into an AA gun pit; but the door is blocked, the pit infilled, and the bolts of a holdfast for a secondary light AA weapon are evident on top of the pillbox. It is located in the SW corner of Beacon Hill Fort, Harwich. <1> <2>