Monument record MWX1336 - World War Two type 26 pillbox near Reeds End, Abbotsbury

A World War Two type 26 pillbox located on the seaward side of Chesil Beach, by anti-tank blocks at Reeds End. The pillbox was one of four associated with the double row of anti tank blocks crossing the beach (HOB UID 1426263). It is square on plan and constructed of concrete. The pillbox was constructed in 1940 and was situated within the Abbotsbury Defence area, which at this time, was manned by the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. A field visit in 1995 found the structure to be partly buried in the beach.Square Type 26 pillbox on Chesil Beach near Reeds End, visible as an extant structure on Lidar imagery.

A World War II type 26 pillbox with an iron door, located on the seaward side of Chesil Beach close by the anti-tank blocks at Reeds End. The pillbox was one of four pillboxes associated with the double row of anti tank blocks which crosses the beach (MWX1315). It is square on plan and built of concrete. The pillbox was constructed in 1940 and was situated within the Abbotsbury Defence area, which at this time, was manned by the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. [Shown on OS 1:2500 sheet SY 5683 - 5783 (1964)]. A field visit in 1995 found it half buried in the beach and tilted at an angle. <1-3>

The site is visible as an extant structure on Lidar imagery taken in 2007 <4> and was digitally plotted during the South Dorset Ridgeway Mapping Project.

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0003115 (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database, S0003115 (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0003115 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> 11-SEP-2007, D0086174 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12187.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1419109 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:36PM