Monument record MDO25732 - World War Two pillbox, Langton Hive Point, Langton Herring

A Second World War type 26 pillbox is visible as an extant structure on aerial photographs to the east of Langton Hive Point. The pillbox is located on a footpath off the Coastguard Road between Higher Farm and Bridge Lane House. It is square on plan, constructed of reinforced concrete and brick, and was built between 1940-41. The pillbox is unusual in that its entrance is concealed on the seaward side by a 4 feet high Portland stone wall. The entrance is under the wall via a pit. Inside it is approximately 6 feet square and has three embrasures, facing north, east and south. A field visit in 1995 found the structure to be in a good condition.

Square type 26 pillbox. A well-concealed pillbox, facing inland. [Located by Lt. Graham Matthews R.N., a helicopter pilot, during a routine flight along the Fleet].

Recorded also by Lt. Matthews:- A concrete and brick constructed pillbox, unusual in that its entrance is concealed on the seaward side by a 4ft high Portland stone wall. The entrance, in fact, is under the wall itself; one has to descend into a pit and then go under the wall itself directly into the pillbox. Inside, it is approximately 6ft square 3 embrasures, facing N, E, and S. [Chesil Beach is due W at this position, and one would expect the pillbox to be facing the direction of the threat rather than inland]. The pillbox is 2 metres from a gate through the stone wall, Langton Herring village, on footpath off the Coastguard Road between Higher Farm and Bridge Lane House. <1-3>

The probable site of a World War II type 26 pillbox is visible as an extant structure on aerial photographs taken in 1942 to the east of Langton Hive Point <4>. The feature is visible as an extant structure, square in plan and approximately 5m across, it was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0003105 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database, S0003105 (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0003105 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> Royal Air Force, 27-APR-1942, RAF RAF/AC36 V 57-8 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12143.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1419099 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 16 2023 1:54PM