Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A "Walk in" type 23 pillbox is located high on the north-east flank of the battery and approached up concrete steps and along a path from the covered way. Mildly unusual in having two embrasures in end wall of roofed section. Built of concrete, c. 1940 and in good condition. (location accurate to the nearest 1m based on available information)

Monument Types

• PILLBOX (Disused, Modern - 1940 AD to 1944 AD)

Full description

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A "Walk in" type 23 pillbox is located high on the north-east flank of the battery and approached up concrete steps and along a path from the covered way. The entrance, 0.69m wide, is in the north-west wall near the south corner. There are two rooms protected by walls 0.36m thick: the south-western room, measuring 2.32m by 1.90m and 1.65m high, is open to the sky and formed a light AA position. The concrete and metal gun pedestal is in the centre and probably supported a Bren gun. Two steps lead down through the north-east wall into the second room which is roofed and measures 2.32m by 2.36m, although it is partly divided by a wall, 0.22m thick, extending 1.40m out from the south-west wall. There are four rifle/LMG embrasures, each with external anti-ricochet stepping and internal splays, one in each of the north-west and south-west walls and two in the north-east wall (one of which has a groove cut into the top, presumably for wiring of some kind). Underneath the embrasures are timber battens for folding shelves. Mildly unusual in having two embrasures in end wall of roofed section. Built of concrete (1-4)

<1> CBA Defence of Britain Project, 1994, Defence of Britain Site Report, Pers. Comm. David Burridge, KDRG/PSG (Bibliographic reference). SKE6447.

<2> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage, KD105 (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<3> RCHME, 2000, The Western Heights, Dover, Kent. Report No 5: St Martin's Battery, 19th and 20th-century artillery battery (Unpublished document). SKE17500.

<4> RCHME, 2001, The Western Heights, Dover, Kent. Report No 10: Miscellaneous Structures 1850-1945 (Unpublished document). SKE17506.

Sources and further reading

Related records