Monument record MWX1431 - Type 25 or 22 pillbox, Ringstead, Osmington

Remains of a World War II, possible type 25 or type 22 pillbox identified 200 yards west of the slipway on Ringstead Beach. It was constructed sometime between 1940-41 and is built of concrete. A field visit in 1996 found it to be on a poor condition. Only the concrete base, 5 feet deep, remained. The upper structure appeared to have been blasted off using high explosives. The base has six sides and a diameter of 10 feet 5 inches suggesting that it could be a type 22 pillbox. All other pillboxes in coastal vicinity are type 25s.

Remains of what appears to be a type 25 or type 22 pillbox. Only the concrete base, 5 ft deep, remains. Upper structure appears to have been blasted off using high explosive as 5/8th inch iron reinforcing rods protrude from around the edge in a twisted fashion and upper concrete surface is very uneven. Appears to have been constructed with flatboard shuttering both vertical (9ins wide) and horizontal (7ins-8ins wide). 6 sides at the base and 10ft 5ins in diameter, suggesting that it could be a type 22 pillbox. All other pillboxes in coastal vicinity are type 25. At rear of the pillbox the bottom section of the entrance is still visible; 40ins wide at widest point reducing to 24ins at narrowest. Structure is now subject to severe coastal erosion.Approx. 200 yards W of slipway, Ringstead Beach. <1-3>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project, S0003133 (Digital archive). SWX5.

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

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01, S0003133 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1419127 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 6 2024 4:37PM