| Summary : A Second World War hexagonal reinforced concrete pillbox with brick shuttering. The structure has been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project, and was examined by field survey in 1995. It is located to the south of Abbots Lodge, Stoke Rd, Hoo St. Werburgh, alongside a narrow lane or footpath, and may be discernible beneath vegetation on aerial photographs taken in 2007. The pillbox formed part of the defences associated with the Hoo Stop Line (Monument 1542577), constructed in 1940 across the south western third of the Hoo Peninsula, from the Medway to the Thames. |
More information : Concrete pillbox with brick shuttering. Used as a wood store.Pillbox. Concrete type 24 pillbox, facing E. Narrow wall version with brick skin. Behind house on main road, 30m S of Abbots Lodge, Stoke Rd, Hoo St. Werburgh. (1)
A hexagonal pillbox is visible on aerial photographs at TQ 79031 72699 (the grid reference assigned by authority 1), and has been mapped as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project. Contrary to the statement in authority 1, however, that location is about 73m south of Abbots Lodge. The pillbox formed part of the defences associated with the Hoo Stop Line (Monument 1542577), a system of anti tank ditches, gun emplacements and pillboxes constructed in 1940 across the south western third of the Hoo Peninsula, from the Medway to the Thames. Defensive features associated with this pillbox include a section of anti tank ditch (Monument 1542610) about 57m to the east, an anti tank pillbox 65.6m to the north (Monument 1418713), and two pillboxes to the west (Monuments 1418685 and 1426022).
The hexagonal pillbox is visible on aerial photographs from 1942 to at least 1973, and its outline may be discernible on photographs taken in 2007. It is depicted on the latest OS 1:2500 map. (2-6)
The description given in authority 1 appears to be a conflation of two separate pillboxes: the hexagonal structure recorded here (Monument 1418686), and a rectangular anti tank pillbox, recorded as Monument 1418713, which lies immediately behind the house known as Abbots Lodge and appears to have been converted into a shed. (7) |