Summary

Site of a pillbox.

Full description

Aerial photographs taken in April 1946 and September 1947 show two pillboxes standing on the west side of Mersea Road, where Stansted Road is. In a semi-circle around southern Colchester, each of the roads leading up to the main defence line (600 yards to the north) were similarly guarded during World War Two. One pillbox stood 50 yards from Mersea Road - this still survives (see 20552). The second stood to its southeast immediately alongside Mersea Road. This has now been demolished. The aerial photographs show this second pillbox to have been hexagonal with its entrance on the north face - almost certainly an FW3/22 like its partner. <1> <2>
Both pillboxes were protected by a short anti-tank ditch which ran from northwest to southeast across their face about 50 yards away, and continued for a short distance on the east side of Mersea Road.

<1> RAF, 1946, 106G-UK 1367-7356 (AP). SEX61329.

<2> RAF, 1947, CPE-UK 2300-5022 (AP). SEX61330.

Monument Types

• PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22) (WWII, Second World War - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Associated Events

• Colchester - Southern Perimeter WWII Defences (Ref: ?)
• Colchester - Lexden to Mersea Road by Fred Nash (Ref: Nash COL Apr-Aug 2001)

Sources and further reading

Images

Pillbox (destroyed), Stansted Road, Berechurch, Colchester © Essex County Council	Pillbox (destroyed), Stansted Road, Berechurch, Colchester © Essex County Council
Pillbox (destroyed), Stansted Road, Berechurch, Colchester © Essex County Council	Pillbox (destroyed), Stansted Road, Berechurch, Colchester © Essex County Council

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