The Historic Environment and Archaeology team recently carried out an interesting built heritage survey of a Second World War pillbox in East Sussex. A pillbox is a small, fortified structure, built to protect vulnerable locations from invasion during WWII. Due to its isolated location, the pillbox is not recorded on the Defence of Britain database or East Sussex Historic Environment Record.
The pillbox is located on the edge of a natural ridge to provide effective visibility for its designed field of fire covering a nearby road. It was constructed of reinforced concrete with a brick skin and internally consists of a single space sub-divided into two chambers. The rear infantry chamber has loopholes for small arms such as Bren Guns and the front chamber includes the main embrasure with a support and holdfast plate for a 6pdr Hotchkiss anti-tank gun.
The team carried out a comprehensive photographic record and produced an accurate measured plan of the structure. The pillbox was assessed as being of regional heritage significance and has historic and evidential value as a variation of the ‘Type-28’ (FW3/28A) design.
An interesting reminder that both resilience and history live on in the local landscape!
