Info from world war 2 heritage
Totally unusual, 22' (6.7 m) high x 20' (6 m) wide observation post built as a two-storey hexagonal tower surmounted by a concrete cupola. Constructed of 2' thick concrete, the lower level is a pillbox/strong point with a total of 17 machine gun apertures at two heights giving a 360 degree defence. The upper floor is reached by an open hatchway. This is a 16' (4.9 m) wide room with a high pyramidal ceiling at the apex of which is the 6' (1.8 m) wide cupola containing a firing slot with steel flap in each of its six sides. The dominant feature of the upper room is a concrete platform above which is a 6' (1.8 m) wide by 16' (4.9 m) high look-out slot set in the S wall. From this position one can see above the sea wall, some 50 yards (46 m) distant, and across the mouth of the River Crouch. The building, striking for its size, unfamiliar shape and wealth of loopholes, totally dominates the wide landscape. In contemporary records it is listed as 'O.P.'. 'Fortifications of East Anglia' shows a sketch and states, 'The Crouch was defended by a minefield controlled from this tower on the north bank'.
In the years prior to the outbreak of World War II Burnham-on-Crouch was of little significance to the Royal Navy, although a small minefield had been laid in the estuary during World War I. However, after the German occupation of France, this comparatively small yachting center suddenly acquired a greater significance, representing a possible landing point for enemy forces seeking a short and undefended route to London. In 1940 the British Army had already constructed a series of pillboxes along the sea wall as part of its coastal defence scheme (which also included measures such as anti-aircraft gunsites and bombing decoys). The Royal Navy sought to make the River Crouch inaccessible to enemy invasion craft (at that time the river would have admitted vessels of up to 22 feet(6.7m) draught) and constructed a floating boom defence of wire ropes and buoys. The next step was to lay mines in the estuary at the gateway to the boom defence. The two wartime structures at Holliwell Point give testimony to this particular and most important aspect of the defensive scheme.
Built in 1940 the pillbox predates the minefield control tower. Originally one of a series of manned defensive pillboxes along the coast, it undertook a more specialized role in housing the firing equipment for the original two warheads deployed at Holliwell Point. With the expansion of the minefield in 1941 the impressive control tower was purpose-built. This is a highly unusual structure, unique in England. The only other surviving example of a purpose-built minefield control tower in the British Isles overlooks the Sound of Kerrera, 4.8km south of Oban in Scotland.
The minefield control tower survives in particularly good condition and provides a unique record of the architecture and design of this type of combined observation/control post. The pillbox is its improvised forerunner and has an important role to play in illustrating the evolution of the full complement of defensive schemes employed here. Together the two structures provide a graphic illustration of the threat, acutely felt at the time, of the impending German invasion.
(built in 1941)
The explore
only a small one but something a bit different do love a pillbox
this is in the ass end of nowhere takes about 45 mins to walk to
also lots of other pill boxes close by to look at
only down side years and years of pigeon poo
Totally unusual, 22' (6.7 m) high x 20' (6 m) wide observation post built as a two-storey hexagonal tower surmounted by a concrete cupola. Constructed of 2' thick concrete, the lower level is a pillbox/strong point with a total of 17 machine gun apertures at two heights giving a 360 degree defence. The upper floor is reached by an open hatchway. This is a 16' (4.9 m) wide room with a high pyramidal ceiling at the apex of which is the 6' (1.8 m) wide cupola containing a firing slot with steel flap in each of its six sides. The dominant feature of the upper room is a concrete platform above which is a 6' (1.8 m) wide by 16' (4.9 m) high look-out slot set in the S wall. From this position one can see above the sea wall, some 50 yards (46 m) distant, and across the mouth of the River Crouch. The building, striking for its size, unfamiliar shape and wealth of loopholes, totally dominates the wide landscape. In contemporary records it is listed as 'O.P.'. 'Fortifications of East Anglia' shows a sketch and states, 'The Crouch was defended by a minefield controlled from this tower on the north bank'.
In the years prior to the outbreak of World War II Burnham-on-Crouch was of little significance to the Royal Navy, although a small minefield had been laid in the estuary during World War I. However, after the German occupation of France, this comparatively small yachting center suddenly acquired a greater significance, representing a possible landing point for enemy forces seeking a short and undefended route to London. In 1940 the British Army had already constructed a series of pillboxes along the sea wall as part of its coastal defence scheme (which also included measures such as anti-aircraft gunsites and bombing decoys). The Royal Navy sought to make the River Crouch inaccessible to enemy invasion craft (at that time the river would have admitted vessels of up to 22 feet(6.7m) draught) and constructed a floating boom defence of wire ropes and buoys. The next step was to lay mines in the estuary at the gateway to the boom defence. The two wartime structures at Holliwell Point give testimony to this particular and most important aspect of the defensive scheme.
Built in 1940 the pillbox predates the minefield control tower. Originally one of a series of manned defensive pillboxes along the coast, it undertook a more specialized role in housing the firing equipment for the original two warheads deployed at Holliwell Point. With the expansion of the minefield in 1941 the impressive control tower was purpose-built. This is a highly unusual structure, unique in England. The only other surviving example of a purpose-built minefield control tower in the British Isles overlooks the Sound of Kerrera, 4.8km south of Oban in Scotland.
The minefield control tower survives in particularly good condition and provides a unique record of the architecture and design of this type of combined observation/control post. The pillbox is its improvised forerunner and has an important role to play in illustrating the evolution of the full complement of defensive schemes employed here. Together the two structures provide a graphic illustration of the threat, acutely felt at the time, of the impending German invasion.
(built in 1941)
The explore
only a small one but something a bit different do love a pillbox
this is in the ass end of nowhere takes about 45 mins to walk to
also lots of other pill boxes close by to look at
only down side years and years of pigeon poo
