Second World War pillbox and an anti-aircraft gun pit, Beacon Hill Fort (EHER 82274)

A Second World War reinforced concrete hexagonal pillbox with iron and wood elements and an anti-aircraft gun pit (probably for a Lewis gun) built over. It is an integral element of the Second World War defences at Beacon Hill Fort.

Information from NRHE A concrete hexagonal pillbox with an AA gun pit (probably for a Lewis gun) built over. The sides are 1.77m internally and 2.23m externally. The interior is reached along a short passage, 1.37m by 0.72m by 1.54m high, with anti-ricochet walls. There are four gun embrasures, the one in the W wall now blocked by made-up ground. All are simple square openings splaying to the interior, each with a metal shield on the outer side which could be opened to different widths. Below each embrasure are wooden supports for shelves, presumably for ammunition. In the centre of the pillbox is a T-shaped concrete pillar providing anti-ricochet defence. The AA gun position is a hexagonal concrete gun pit, 1.60m deep, and open-topped, the sides measuring 1.21m internally and 1.56m externally. A central circular concrete pillar, 0.76m in diameter and 1.43m high, is topped with a metal pivot, 0.26m high, which formerly supported the gun. The interior may have been painted black. LOCATION: Beacon Hill Fort, Harwich <1> <2>