Second World War pillbox on the sea wall, NE corner of Foulness Island (EHER 10011)

A Second World War rectangular concrete pillbox set in the seawall on the tip of Foulness Island overlooking the Crouch Estuary to the North. The pillbox was probably built between 1940-1941. Since then the sea wall has been reconstructed, and a roof opening in the pillbox, which may have been the original entrance, has been filled in. There is one embrasure facing the sea; this has a machine gun mounting. The pillbox was part of the outer so called "crust" defences of the Essex coast. When the site was visited by a Defence of Britain Project recorder in 1998 the pillbox was extant and said to be in fair condition.

1993. World War Two Defences on the Essex Coast pilot survey. Rectangular, concrete pillbox jutting out of the seaward side of the sea wall facing North across the estuary of the River Crouch. It has, unusually, only one machine-gun aperture. The sea wall is now approximately 8ft higher than it was originally and the exposed part of the pillbox measures just 16ft x 7ft, the entrance on the West side now being covered. <1> <2> Two photos. <3> NRHE data transfer: A journal article gives a general description of a pilot survey of World War II defences along the Essex coast that was undertaken in 1993. This focused on Frinton, Milford Haven, Mersea Island, Burnham and Foulness. The survey is said to have doubled the number of known sites in these areas. <4> 1995-2002. Defence of Britain survey. The Defence of Britain Database includes a record of a rectangular concrete pillbox set in the seawall on the tip of Foulness Island, overlooking the Crouch Estuary. The pillbox was probably built between 1940-1941. Since then the sea wall has been reconstructed, and a roof opening in the pillbox, which may have been the original entrance, has been filled in. There is one embrasure facing the sea; this has a machine gun mounting. The pillbox was part of the outer so called 'crust' defences of the Essex coast. When the site was visited by a Defence of Britain Project recorder in 1998 the pillbox was extant and said to be in fair condition. The Defence Estate SMR number is given as ESSH11. <5> See also <6>.