Summary

An hexagonal pillbox with its entrance on the E side.

Full description

1996: Aerial photographs taken in 1948 and 1949 show an hexagonal pillbox on the NE corner of Marine Parade/Beach Road with its entrance on the E side. It is also shown as an hexagonal shape on a 1:2500 map dated 1967. <1> <2 <3> However, an earlier aerial photograph, taken in 1946 shows this as a slightly smaller rectangular shape. It appears that some of the angles and the entrance to the hexagonal pillbox were "painted out" during WW11 leaving an apparent rectangular shape as a disguise. <4>

January 2011: This can be more clearly seen on an aerial photograph taken in July 1948. <5>

Two ground-level photos, dated 1951 and 1961, recently come to light show the pillbox in the background as an artillery-type with a wide aperture, and a normal-sized loophole, facing W along the promenade. <6>

Visited in January 2011 the site is now occupied by a new house.

<1> RAF, 1948, CPE-UK 2534-5161 (AP). SEX42526.

<2> RAF, 1949, 540/194/0071 (AP). SEX42527.

<3> unknown, 1967, TM 2430 & TM 2530, 1:2500 (Map). SEX42528.

<4> RAF, 1946, 106G-UK 1492-4090 (AP). SEX42427.

<5> RAF, 1948, 58-84-5130, July 1948 (AP). SEX70934.

<6> Cone, P.J., 2004, Harwich and Dovercourt in the 20th Century, photo on p.47 dated 1950 (Monograph). SEX70935.

Monument Types

• PILLBOX (WWII, Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Associated Events

• Tendring District WWII site survey by Fred Nash January 2011 (Ref: Nash TEN Jan 2011)

Sources and further reading

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