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

A Concrete World War II pillbox, located on field boundary south of Ratcliffe Highway, Hoo St. Werburgh. The type 24 pillbox faces east and is a narrow wall version with brick skin. It was visited during 1995 as part of a defensive survey. Formed part of Hoo stop line (GHQ line) anti invasion defences 1940.

Monument Types

• PILLBOX (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

Concrete type 24 pillbox facing E narrow wall version with brick skin (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. The report states that this is "a Second World War reinforced concrete Type 24 pillbox with brick shuttering and is located to the east of Bells Lane and south of Ratcliffe Highway, on the east side of Hoo St Werburgh. The pillbox is a narrow wall version with a brick skin, with the irregularity of no brickwork above the embrasure. The pillbox survives as an extant structure and is listed at Grade II, NHLE 139 1937. The pillbox was located during a field visit in 2014." (2)

Description from record TQ 77 SE 1309:
Standard concrete construction infantry pillbox. No access, though visible through hedge..
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential : Possible heritage trail
Condition : good
Date of visit : 11/05/06

A hexagonal brick-shuttered concrete pillbox. An infantry pillbox of type 24 facing ENE across the line of the former anti-tank ditch. Lack of brickwork above the embrasures is a feature unique to this particular part of the GHQ Line, presumably particular to an individual contractor.

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)

11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, 08/01/41, War Diary (Collection). SKE14646.

11th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, 08/01/41, War Diary (Collection). Ske14646.

MMRG, 21/05/06, Pillbox Type 24 (Photograph). SKE14647.

MMRG, 21/05/06, Pillbox Type 24 (Photograph). Ske14647.

<1> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, site visit by VTC Smith 10/9/1995 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

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

Sources and further reading

Related records