Site of Second World War Pillbox, in beach pavilion, west of Kings Avenue, Holland-on-Sea (EHER 21167)

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Summary

Site of Second World War Pillbox, now destroyed.

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Location

Grid reference	TM 1963 1576 (point)

Type and Period

PILLBOX (WWII, Second World War - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Description

WWII Defence of Clacton survey Along this stretch of the beach there were five wooden pavilions for bathing, refreshments and amusements built between 1929-1936. With the advent of World War Two and the subsequent construction of coastal defences, two of them, W of Kings Avenue and E of York Road (SMR 21164), were stripped and transformed to provide a roofed camouflage for a concrete pillbox. These pavilions were built on wooden piles with a wooden floor, walls and roof. The walls were removed but the roof was retained on side and corner posts with the pillbox hidden within the heart of the structure. This can be seen on various postcards and ground-level photos taken both during and immediately after the war. <1> Verbal communication, 2006 The pillbox was demolished around 1947 and the pavilion followed soon afterwards. <2> <3>

Sources

<1> SEX67963 Photograph: Kennell, R. - in the collection of. 1942. In the collection of R. Kennell. print.
<2> SEX67962 Verbal communication: Kennell, R.. 2006. Personal communication, August 2006.
<3> SEX70635 DESC TEXT: Clacton VCH Group. 2008. Survey of World War Defences of Clacton.