Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

World War II type 28A anti tank blockhouse located at the eastern boundary of an orchard off Bell's Lane and facing east. Formed part of the Hoo stop line (GHQ line) anti invasion defences dating to 1940. Rectangular structure for three and six pound guns. Also contains a plaque with the inscription "1940- Hells Corner- BY BEF". Last seen in good condition.

Monument Types

• PILLBOX (Modern - 1940 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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Eastern boundary of orchard off Bell's Lane. Rectangular for 3-pr. or 6-pr. WW1 naval gun. Contains plaque "1940- Hells Corner- BY BEF". In good condition.(1)

This feature is noted in the English Heritage report on the Second World War Stop Line which ran from Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes, part of the wider English Heritage study of the Hoo Peninsula. The report states that it is a Second World War reinforced concrete Type 28 artillery pillbox with brick shuttering to the east of Bells Lane and south of Ratcliffe Highway, on the east side of Hoo St Werburgh. It is further described as a rectangular anti-tank gun emplacement for 2-pounder or 6-punder First World War naval gun. The report states also that the pillbox survives as an extant structure, and is listed at Grade II, NHLE 139 1937. The pillbox was seen on a field visit in 2014 and was surrounded by a fence on private land. The roof had a chamfered edge and it contains a plaque "1940 - Hell's Corner - BY BEF". (2)

Description from record TQ 77 SE 1253:
Standard concrete construction anti-tank pillbox. No interior access.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential : Possible heritage trail
Condition : good
Date of visit : 11/05/06

A rectangular anti-tank gun emplacement of concrete construction with brick shuttering. Roof with chamfered edge. A type 28 to house a two or six-pounder quick-firing gun facing north along the stop-line. Type 28s are rarer than type 24s and are a much larger form of pillbox requiring a large rear entrance to wheel in the gun and a larger embrasure for the same, supported by smaller infantry embrasures.

The pillbox is deliberately located behind (to the west of) a hedge line to cover the anti-tank ditch (now in-filled) and field approaches to their north and east. The landscape here is relatively low-lying but the pillbox has been positioned to take advantage of a slight rise just below the Hoo St Werburgh ridge, providing the pillboxes with greater fields of fire. (3)

MMRG, 11/05/06, Type 28 A pill box Bells Lane Hoo (Photograph). SKE14521.

MMRG, 11/05/06, Type 28 A pill box Bells Lane Hoo (Photograph). Ske14521.

11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, 18/01/41, War diary. (Collection). SKE14305.

11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, 18/01/41, War diary. (Collection). Ske14305.

<1> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<2> historic england, 2014, Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes. Research Report 9-2014. (Bibliographic reference). SKE31599.

<3> Victor Smith and Ron Crowdy, Thames Gateway Assesment: Gazetteer of Defence Sites (Index). SKE6445.

Sources and further reading

Related records