Monument record LCS 103 - Modern wind pump and World War II pillbox.

A possible modern wind pump and probable World War II pillbox in Leiston parish are visible as a structure on aerial photographs. A wind pump is marked on the second edition Ordnance Survey map of 1904 in this location (S1). In 1940 a structure is visible at circa TM47396449 on aerial photographs, which possibly appears to have vanes, suggesting a wind powered mechanism (S2). However, vegetation obscures this area somewhat until 1953, and although there is a suggestion of a rectangular structure in this location in photographs from 1943 and 1945, it is uncertain whether this is a deliberate disguise or simply a derelict structure (S3, S4). From 1953 onwards with the clearance of vegetation, a rectangular structure approximately 5 x 3m resembling a pillbox is visible (S5). It is probable that a pillbox was located here to supplement the other anti-invasion beach defences in this area during World War II, although whether it was initially disguised as a wind pump or replaced it some time between 1940 and 1943 is uncertain.