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

Second World War concrete defensive pillbox (type 24) built in 1940 on the south side of Gore Green Road, to command its junction with Buckland and Lillechurch Roads, Higham. Internally it retains traces of fittings for timber shelving.

Summary from record TQ 77 SW 1057:

Second World War concrete defensive pillbox (type 24) built in 1940 on the south side of Gore Green Road, to command its junction with Buckland and Lillechurch Roads, Higham. Internally it retains traces of fittings for timber shelving.

Monument Types

• PILLBOX (Modern - 1940 AD? to 1944 AD?)

Full description

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Second World War concrete defensive pillbox (Type 24, thin-walled version), built in a field on the south side of Gore Green Road, near its junction with Buckland and Lillechurch Roads, Higham. It was one of three anti-invasion pillboxes sited to command this junction and to impede enemy vehicle access. On its internal walls are traces of the fixings for timber shelving on which the defenders would have rested their arms when firing their rifles through the loopholes.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey : It can be seen from Gore Green Road through a hedge at the edge of the field. It is not accessible without owner permission.
Tourism Potential : The pillbox is ideally suited for viewing from a heritage trail and with permission of the unknown farmer, it could be made accessible by creating an opening in the hedge.
Condition : good
Date of visit : 28/02/06 (1)

TQ 7251 7326. Hexagonal concrete pillbox (type 24 narrow wall version) situated behind hedgerow in field on S side of Gore Green Rd. Faces NE to cover Buckland Rd from Cliffe. Entrance in centre of long rear wall. There is a single loophole in the centre of the front and side faces and 2 loopholes in the rear wall, one either side of the entrance. Inside there is a central Y-shaped brick traverse and there are traces of the fixings for timber arm rests under each loophole (2)

Start of para (4):
This feature is recorded in the English Heritage report on the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula. The report states: "Second World War reinforced concrete Type 24 pillbox, located within the corner of a field to the south of Gore Green Rd. Faces North-East to cover Buckland Road from Cliffe. Condition: Recorded on 1947 and 2007 aerial photographs. Observed during May 2015 field visit. (4)

<1> Smith, V.T.C., 19/04/06, Lillechurch Road Second World War pillbox, Higham (Photograph). SKE13773.

<2> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, site visit by VTC Smith 12/4/95 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<3> Smith, V.T.C., 28/02/06, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). SKE13724.

<4> 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.

Sources and further reading

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