Monument record FEX 301 - Pillbox

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Summary

Rectangular pillbox, with shuttering walls inside and out made of 9insx4insx2ins cement 'bricks', and the space between them filled with concrete. There are vertical reinforcing bars and some evidence that the two shuttering walls are connected by metal ties. The roof is of cast concrete and the marks of the boards can be seen inside. There are one or two slight cracks on the inside. The outside has weathered to show a fairly constant aggregate. The upper surface of the walls and round the embrasures is rendered and in good condition. The embrasures are cement/concrete construction cast in situ. There are wooden plugs in the walls for shelves for firing rests. There are no internal anti-blast or division walls. There is some soil banked up against the pillbox die to ploughing. The pillbox is dry inside, but has some rubbish and soil.

Location

Grid reference Centred TM 3163 3637 (5m by 6m)
Map sheet TM33NW
Civil Parish FELIXSTOWE, SUFFOLK COASTAL, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

On land of East End Farm, 46 feet from a bend in Ferry Road, Old Felixstowe, Felixstowe. Rectangular pillbox, with shuttering walls inside and out made of 9insx4insx2ins cement 'bricks', and the space between them filled with concrete. There are vertical reinforcing bars and some evidence that the two shuttering walls are connected by metal ties. The roof is of cast concrete and the marks of the boards can be seen inside. There are one or two slight cracks on the inside. The outside has weathered to show a fairly constant aggregate. The upper surface of the walls and round the embrasures is rendered and in good condition. The embrasures are cement/concrete construction cast in situ. There are wooden plugs in the walls for shelves for firing rests. There are no internal anti-blast or division walls. There is some soil banked up against the pillbox due to ploughing. The pillbox is dry inside, but has some rubbish and soil (S1).

2017: A historic buildings record (Historic England Level 3) was undertaken of the pillbox located on land off Ferry Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk. The recording work was commissioned by CgMs Consulting and was carried out as part of the planning requirements placed on the redevelopment of the site for housing. The pillbox is part of a wider landscape of World War 2 features relating to the defence of the port of Felixstowe and its environs. The structure was short-lived; the pillbox was erected as an invasion defence in the early 1940s, probably by the 558th Field Corps, but by 1942 as the invasion threat
receded, pillboxes and other defences against land invasion were wound down as attention turned to the war in Europe. (S2)

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <S1> Digital archive: Defence of Britain Project archive. UORN: S0006081.
  • <S2> Unpublished document: Chandler, S.. 2017. The Pillbox, Ferry Road, Felixstowe: Historic Building Recording.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jan 27 2023 12:03PM

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