See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Pillbox covering the northern end of Hollicombe Beach. One of several built in the vicinity in 1940 to protect the beach and railway from a possible German landing. Described as a good example. Visible on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 1999.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX86SE/156
• Torbay HER: MTO55646

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PILLBOX (Built, World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223, RAF/3G/TUD/UK223 5097-5098 12-JUL-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352279.

A possible structure is visible.

RAF, 1949, RAF/58/209 Vp2, RAF/58/209 5065-5066 15-APR-1949 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352287.

A flat roofed structure is visible within the trees.

Brown, I., Burridge, D. Clarke, D., Guy, J., Hellis, J., Lowry, B., Ruckley, N. & Thomas, R., 1996, 20th Century Defences in Britain. An Introductory Guide., 84, Figs 38, 40 (Monograph). SDV349907.

Description of Type 24 pillbox, which is an irregular hexagon on plan.

Jury, R, 1996, Defence of Britain Worksheet (Worksheet). SDV316552.

Site visit 13th April 1996. Concrete and brick pillbox covering the northern end of Hollicombe Beach. Located on the heights above the beach.

Ford, M., 1998, Western Defence Coastal Pillbox (Worksheet). SDV362144.

A pillbox in the form of an irregular hexagon constructed of brick, sandstone and concrete with five gun slits. The entrance is stepped into a doorway, shielded by a low brick wall. In 1998 the door was blocked by rubbish and otherwise lightly overgrown. Other details: Photo

Fiorato, V.J., 1999, Hollacombe North Pillbox, T42, 47 (Worksheet). SDV362145.

This is an exceptionally good example of a pillbox. It is sub-hexagonal in shape with five loop holes, four of which overlook the beach and one which looks in-land. Internally it is one chamber with a central"Y"-shaped anti-ricochet wall. The entrance, on the north side, is flanked by a curving defensive wall. The pillbox is entered by descending four steps. The roof is flat. The walls are circa 0.6 metres thick. The loop hole internal splay width is circa 0.7 metres; the window hole width circa 0.3 metres. The window splays appear to be equal internally and externally and are smooth splayed. Other details: A sketch plan of the building is included on the site visit form; slides

Next Perspectives, 1999, Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX8962 25-JUN-1999 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352113.

Four sides of a structure are visible.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, Channel Coastal Observatory SX8962_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

The area is obscured by tree or scrub growth.

Foot, W., 2005, Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England, DA64-S0001394, Fig. 5 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Site visit 22nd January 2003. Pillbox located in scrubland on top of the cliffs to the east of the railway line, facing east out to sea. Hexagonal Type 24 pillbox. Stone faced with brick lining. Three steps down to the doorway (blocked) in the north-west corner. Blast wall attached. Five small embrasures, all overlooking the beach and bay. Overgrown but in fair condition.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

A structure is just visible in this location on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 1999, with a maximum diameter of approximately 5 metres. It is likely to be the hexagonal pillbox recorded in 1998. However it appears to have become more overgrown since and is not visible on more recent available aerial photographs; it is likely to survive below the canopy.

Ordnance Survey, 2019, MasterMap 2019 (Cartographic). SDV362729.

Pillbox shown.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV316552	Worksheet: Jury, R. 1996. Defence of Britain Worksheet. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet.
SDV349907	Monograph: Brown, I., Burridge, D. Clarke, D., Guy, J., Hellis, J., Lowry, B., Ruckley, N. & Thomas, R.. 1996. 20th Century Defences in Britain. An Introductory Guide.. 20th Century Defences in Britain. An Introductory Guide.. Paperback Volume. 84, Figs 38, 40.
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351226	Aerial Photograph: Channel Coast Observatory. 2001-2012. Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography. Channel Coast Observatory. Digital. Channel Coastal Observatory SX8962_20120918ortho.ecw 18-SEP-2012.
SDV352113	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 1999. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SX8962 25-JUN-1999.
SDV352279	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/3G/TUD/UK/223. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/3G/TUD/UK223 5097-5098 12-JUL-1946.
SDV352287	Aerial Photograph: RAF. 1949. RAF/58/209 Vp2. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Print. RAF/58/209 5065-5066 15-APR-1949.
SDV360266	Report - Survey: Foot, W.. 2005. Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England. Council for British Archaeology/English Heritage. Digital. DA64-S0001394, Fig. 5.
SDV362144	Worksheet: Ford, M.. 1998. Western Defence Coastal Pillbox. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet.
SDV362145	Worksheet: Fiorato, V.J.. 1999. Hollacombe North Pillbox. Worksheet. T42, 47.
SDV362729	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2019. MasterMap 2019. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #119573 ]

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)
• EDV7667 - Defence of Britain site visits to World War II Monuments
• EDV7779 - World War II sites in Torbay

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.