Monument record MDO1619 - World War Two Type 22 pillbox, Bull Lane, Maiden Newton

A World War II type 22 pillbox, co-located with anti-tank blocks, on the railway embankment at the end of Bull Lane. The pillbox is visible as an octagonal structure on 1940's aerial photographs and was digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project. The pillbox has six embrasures and an internal T-shaped anti-ricochet wall. Construction took place in 1940-41 and is of brick and concrete. A field visit in 1997 found the site to be in good condition.

Description from record MDO17975:
1. Type 22 pillbox situated on the railway embankment opposite bull lane and co-located with anti-tank blocks.
2. Six loopholes with internal 'T' shaped anti-ricochet wall (38"x48"x9").
3. Brick wall construction with concrete roof cast above in 5 inch wide bands. Roof 10" thick.
4. Entrance: external 28" wide, 6ft high. Internal 27" wide by 4ft high.
5. Walls: 19" thick (2 bricks end to end). Internal height 6'6". External wall length 68". Bricks protrude at end of elevations.
6. Loopholes: internal - 27" widex17" high. External - 15" wide x 9.5" high.

Type 22 pillbox, co-located with anti-tank blocks. 6 embrasures with internal T shaped anti-ricochet wall (38ins x 48ins x 9ins). Brick wall construction with concrete roof cast above in 5ins wide bands: roof 10ins thick. Entrance, external 28ins wide, 6ft high: internal 27ins wide by 4ft high. Walls 19ins thick (2 bricks end to end). Internal height, 6ft 6ins. External wall length 68ins. Bricks protrude at end of elevations. Embrasures, internal 27ins wide x 17ins high: external 15ins wide x 9.5ins high.On the railway embankment at the end of Bull Lane, Maiden Newton. <1-3>

The pillbox is visible as an octagonal structure on 1940s aerial photographs <4> and was digitally plotted during the Dorset Upper Frome AIM project.

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0000057 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database, S0000057 (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0000057 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> Royal Air Force, 22-JAN-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RS 4276-7 (Aerial Photograph). SDO16872.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1416275 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 24 2024 12:19PM