Second World War pillbox, near Sir Joshua's Bridge (EHER 10238)

A Second World War type 28a pillbox is located on the north side of Walden Road, to provide cover for the contemporary road block on St Joshua's Bridge. The pillbox is rectangular and is oriented north-south. It was made of concrete and comprised two internal chambers with various embrasures; the main embrasure was used for a six-pounder anti-tank gun. The pillbox was in good condition when visited in March 1997 by the Defence of Britain project. It is one of a number of similar defensive features constructed along the River Cam in 1940-1941 and formed part of the GHQ Line (Essex). A second similar pillbox appears to have been temporarily stored 20m to its north-east on aerial photographs taken in 1952 and a Vickers Machine Gun pillbox is located 130m to its NNE.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Standing in a field to the north-west of Sir Joshua's Bridge, Walden Road, is a concrete FW3/28A pillbox facing east across the River Cam some 50 yards away. <1> The entrance and large firing aperture have been reduced by brickwork - the aperture to 24" x 18". In addition, the ground-level slots for holding the legs of the 2-pounder gun have been concreted up. Clearly the lack of a 2-pdr necessitated conversion work to this pillbox. Three photos of site. <2> Type 28A pillbox. Evidence that original large embrasure was bricked up at some time to create smaller embrasure. The large entrance to the rear has also been partially bricked up. The entrance is by way of a dog legged passage. The structure is divided in to two chambers the larger encompasses the main embrasure, the entrance and a smaller embrasure. The second chamber has a further two embrasures. Type 28a, 6pdr, anti-tank gun emplacement. Audley End Estate. <3> The Second World War type 28a pillbox is visible on aerial photographs. It is located at TL 5206 3678, on the north side of Walden Road to provide cover for the contemporary road block on St Joshua's Bridge. The pillbox is rectangular and is oriented north-south, overlooking the River Cam to the east. It is one of a number of similar defensive features constructed along the River Cam in 1940-1941 and formed part of the GHQ Line (Essex). A second similar pillbox appears to have been temporarily stored 20m to its north-east on aerial photographs taken in 1952 and a Vickers Machine Gun pillbox is located 130m to its NNE. <4> <5> See also: <6>