Topics > World War 2 > Defence of Britain > Pillboxes
Pillboxes
Pillboxes were heavily protected, reinforced concrete defensive positions designed to house infantry and light artillery. Over 20,000 built in Britain during the Second World War, under the threat of invasion, following the fall of France. Pillboxes originated in the First Word War. They were typically arranged around strategic nodes or in linear systems, with many adopting a hexagonal design for all-round coverage based on 1940 design principles. While massively deployed in early 1940, the policy shifted by 1941–1942 as these structures were criticized as inflexible, leading to an end in their construction in favor of mobile defense tactics.
In the north of England, the Coquet Stop Line and the Wansbeck Stop Line were strings of pillboxes built in 1940 - 1941, when the threat of invasion was high. The stop lines were intended to slow the advance of the German army, if ivasion came from the north, giving time to organise further defences at the Tyne Stop Line which was set up to the south.
from http://www.pillbox-study-grou…
Pillbox Study Group
- "Committed To The Study & Preservation Of 20th Century United Kingdom & International Pillboxes & Anti-Invasion Defences... over 18,000 were constructed across the British Isles to resist the Nazi invader …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Herrington Hill
- Built with reinforced concrete this pillbox was constructed in 1940-41. It was one of a pair built as part of an inland "stop-line" designed to slow down anticipated invasion during …
Co-Curate Page
Old battery, Alnmouth Links
- There is a old gun battery on Alnmouth Links. It was originally built in 1881 by the Duke of Northumberland for the use of the Percy Artillery Volunteers. It includes …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, nr Weldon Bridge
- Overview Map Street View This large rectangular pillbox is located in a field, approximately a quarter mile south east of Weldon Bridge.
Co-Curate Page
Medieval Preceptory, Low Chibburn
- In Low Chibburn, near Widdrington, are the remains of a preceptory (monestary) of the Knights Hospitallers. The buildings stood beside the Dunbar Burn, a small stream, used to feed a …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox
- Overview Map This World War 2 pilbox is located on "Sandy Island" at the southern end of the sand dunes on Hartly Links at Seaton Sluice. The pillbox is of concrete …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, near Mitford Castle
- This Second World War pillbox is located near Mitford Castle, 718m south-west of Mitford Bridge. It was built by the Northern Command as part of the River Wansbeck Stop Line …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Adders Haugh
- This Second World War pillbox is located on Adders Haugh, 301m south of Mitford Bridge. It was built by the Northern Command as part of the River Wansbeck Stop Line …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox near Spittal Hill Farm
- This Second World War pillbox is located near Spittal Hill Farm, 320m north-west of Mitford Bridge. It was built by the Northern Command as part of the River Wansbeck Stop …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Hemscott Hill
- Overview Map Street View A Second World War pillbox, disguised as a small ruined house at Druridge Bay near the Links at Hemscott Hill. Druridge Bay was identified as a potential …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Bickerton
- Overview Map Street View There is an old Pill Box located to the north-east of Bickerton and to the south-west of Little Tosson. It was built in 1940 as part …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox at Saddlershall
- Near New Shoreston, north west of Seahouses in Northumberland.
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Morwick
- There is a pillbox near Morwick Farm, which was built in 1940 as part of the 'Coquet Stop Line'. The pillbox is Grade II listed on the National Heritage List …
Co-Curate Page
Pill Box to the S.W. of Hepple
- Overview Map Street View There is an old Pill Box at the side of the B6341 road, to the south-west of village of Hepple, Northumberland. It was built in 1940, …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Heiferlaw
- This pillbox is on the northern slopes of Heiferlaw. It was built during the Second World War as part of the Wooler to Alnwick Stop Line. It is a Polygonal …
Co-Curate Page
Pillboxes by Cavendish Dock
- There are pillboxes and other wartime defences along the causeway road between Cavendish Dock and Roosecote Sands.
Co-Curate Page
Four Pillboxes near Mitford and Spital Hill
- Scheduled Monument (#1003239): Four pillboxes Click the headings below to expand (selected extracts from the Historic England scheduling) Significance The pillboxes, 894m NNE, 320m north west, 301m south and 718m …
from https://www.geograph.org.uk/p…
Pill Box, Stainsby Grange Farm
- This relic of the defences for Thornaby Aerodrome is neatly tucked away behind a barn. Photo by Mick Garratt, 23 November, 2005, CC-BY-SA 2.0
Added by
Simon Cotterill
from http://www.pillbox-study-grou…
Pillbox Study Group
- "Committed To The Study & Preservation Of 20th Century United Kingdom & International Pillboxes & Anti-Invasion Defences... over 18,000 were constructed across the British Isles to resist the Nazi invader …
Added by
Simon Cotterill
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Herrington Hill
- Built with reinforced concrete this pillbox was constructed in 1940-41. It was one of a pair built as part of an inland "stop-line" designed to slow down anticipated invasion during …
Co-Curate Page
Old battery, Alnmouth Links
- There is a old gun battery on Alnmouth Links. It was originally built in 1881 by the Duke of Northumberland for the use of the Percy Artillery Volunteers. It includes …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, nr Weldon Bridge
- Overview Map Street View This large rectangular pillbox is located in a field, approximately a quarter mile south east of Weldon Bridge.
Co-Curate Page
Medieval Preceptory, Low Chibburn
- In Low Chibburn, near Widdrington, are the remains of a preceptory (monestary) of the Knights Hospitallers. The buildings stood beside the Dunbar Burn, a small stream, used to feed a …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox
- Overview Map This World War 2 pilbox is located on "Sandy Island" at the southern end of the sand dunes on Hartly Links at Seaton Sluice. The pillbox is of concrete …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, near Mitford Castle
- This Second World War pillbox is located near Mitford Castle, 718m south-west of Mitford Bridge. It was built by the Northern Command as part of the River Wansbeck Stop Line …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Adders Haugh
- This Second World War pillbox is located on Adders Haugh, 301m south of Mitford Bridge. It was built by the Northern Command as part of the River Wansbeck Stop Line …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox near Spittal Hill Farm
- This Second World War pillbox is located near Spittal Hill Farm, 320m north-west of Mitford Bridge. It was built by the Northern Command as part of the River Wansbeck Stop …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Hemscott Hill
- Overview Map Street View A Second World War pillbox, disguised as a small ruined house at Druridge Bay near the Links at Hemscott Hill. Druridge Bay was identified as a potential …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Bickerton
- Overview Map Street View There is an old Pill Box located to the north-east of Bickerton and to the south-west of Little Tosson. It was built in 1940 as part …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox at Saddlershall
- Near New Shoreston, north west of Seahouses in Northumberland.
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Morwick
- There is a pillbox near Morwick Farm, which was built in 1940 as part of the 'Coquet Stop Line'. The pillbox is Grade II listed on the National Heritage List …
Co-Curate Page
Pill Box to the S.W. of Hepple
- Overview Map Street View There is an old Pill Box at the side of the B6341 road, to the south-west of village of Hepple, Northumberland. It was built in 1940, …
Co-Curate Page
Pillbox, Heiferlaw
- This pillbox is on the northern slopes of Heiferlaw. It was built during the Second World War as part of the Wooler to Alnwick Stop Line. It is a Polygonal …
Co-Curate Page
Pillboxes by Cavendish Dock
- There are pillboxes and other wartime defences along the causeway road between Cavendish Dock and Roosecote Sands.
Co-Curate Page
Four Pillboxes near Mitford and Spital Hill
- Scheduled Monument (#1003239): Four pillboxes Click the headings below to expand (selected extracts from the Historic England scheduling) Significance The pillboxes, 894m NNE, 320m north west, 301m south and 718m …
from https://www.geograph.org.uk/p…
Pill Box, Stainsby Grange Farm
- This relic of the defences for Thornaby Aerodrome is neatly tucked away behind a barn. Photo by Mick Garratt, 23 November, 2005, CC-BY-SA 2.0
Added by
Simon Cotterill
Pillbox, Earsdon, Northumberland
Medieval Preceptory, Low Chibburn
Pillbox between Gloster Hill and Warkworth
Pill Box, Newtown, near Rothbury
Pillbox, Adders Haugh, Mitford
Pillbox near Spittal Hill Farm, Mitford
Pillbox, Morwick, Northumberland
Four Pillboxes near Mitford and Spital Hill
Pill Box to the S.W. of Hepple
Pillbox, High Newton by the Sea
WW2 Gun Emplacement on Budle Point