More information : TA 1963 4643. Lozenge pillbox.
(see TA 14 NE 16 for full description)
The most common form of pillbox in the Holderness area, the lozenge
pillbox was the mainstay of the coastal and the inland defences. The
building was a fairly standardised structure, with some small
variations. The pillboxes would be cast on site from wooden `moulds'
out of reinforced concrete. The lozenge pillbox was of an elongated
hexagonal plan, the two long sides being that facing the anticipated
direction of attack, and the one parallel to it. The pillbox
measured approximately 5.5m x 2.5m, and had a reinforced concrete
roof covered with turf to provide both camouflague and some blast
protection.
The pillbox was constructed on a concrete raft foundation, and the
entrance door was in the rear wall, protected by a loopholded `L'
plan blast wall. The building was internally sub-divided by a
longitudinal anti-ricochet wall wall. Four narrow stepped splay rifle
loops or embrasures were in the front wall, two flanked the doorway
in the rear wall, and one wide splay loop was positioned in each of
the four end walls. Brackets usually project from the wall under the
embrasures in the front wall, this carried a wooden shelf which
provided an elbow rest for rifle men. The wide splay loops have a
slot cut below the sill, possibly to permit the use of a Thompson sub-machine gun, the cartridge of which fitted below the chamber.
This lozenge pillbox is situated to the south of Hornsea Mere just
below the crest of a hill facing uphill (south). The pillbox is of
reinforced concrete construction, and when the site was visited
by the Fortress Studies Group in 1992 it was in good condition and
was at no apparent risk. (1)
Reinforced concrete pillbox, southwest of Hornsea, constructed 1940-1. (2) |