Monument record MDO32036 - Pillbox near Tenantrees Lane, West Knighton

A World War Two type 22 pillbox located at Tenantrees, West Stafford, near Dorchester, facing towards a road junction and Warmwell Airfield. The pillbox was constructed in 1940-41 and it has brick elevations, with a concrete roof originally cast on asbestos roofing sheets laid over the walls. The walls are 9.5 inches thick. There are five embrasures which measure 25 inches wide inside, 14 inches wide outside by 10 inches high. The embrasures are set in concrete within the brick walls. A field visit in 1996 found the pillbox to be in a good condition.

A Type 22 Pillbox located in the corner of the field overlooking the road junction at Tenantrees near West Stafford.
1. Pillbox is well concealed in the corner of the field by undergrowth. It faces towards the road junction and Warmwell Airfield. Copious amount of World War Two barbed wire make access difficult.
2. Brick elevations with concrete roof originally cast on asbestos roofing sheets laid over walls. Undulating texture underneath.
3. Grenade throwing entrance with brick retaining wall and three steps down to the entrance.
4. Inside 'T' shaped anti-ricohet wall. Concrete floor. Wall 9 1/2 inches thick.
5. Five loop holes set in concrete within the brick walls.

Brick and concrete construction materials
Good condition
Associated sites: Maiden Newton - Poole Harbour stop-line
in particular pillbox SY72159006 and SY72099045
and Home guard hut SY74508960

<1-3>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0000092 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database, S0000092 (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0000092 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1416307 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 11 2023 4:19PM