Second World War pillbox, south of road at Sibleys (EHER 10439)
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Summary
On the south side of the road, a few yards to the west of the anti-tank ditch of the GHQ Line, stands a Type FW3/28 pillbox.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TL 5699 2930 (7m by 7m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | CHICKNEY, UTTLESFORD, ESSEX |
Type and Period
Description
On the south side of the road, a few yards to the west of the anti-tank ditch of the GHQ Line, stands a Type FW3/28 pillbox. <1>
It faces south-east and has a large loophole to accommodate a WWI 6-pounder gun. However, the pedestal on which the gun would have been mounted has been taken away and, surprisingly, rebuilt outside the front of the pillbox on a large concrete raft. In this position it is totally exposed but may have been deemed to be necessary to give the weapon a lateral field of fire.
From inside the pillbox it would have faced a steep hillside with no more than about 200 yards range. The outer pedestal is 24" square and a circle of nine bolts in the top, on which the gun would have been mounted, has a circumference of 16.5". The pillbox has two lesser loopholes - a standard Bren gun aperture on the south side and a very small hole for a rifle in the north-east corner. Each of the angles and corners round the loopholes have been outlined in dark blue paint. Six photos of site. <2>
NRHE data transfer:
A Second World War Type 28a 6-pounder anti-tank concrete gun emplacement located at Sibleys. <3>
Sources
Other References
- Old SMR Number: TL52
- NRHE identifier: 1422022
- National Monuments Record: TL 52 NE 58