Pillboxes, thrills and heartache!: Bagshot Heath

Aldershot Command: Farnborough / Aldershot stop line - Stop line (known as a switch line) as part of the perimeter defences of Aldershot running S from Ash Vale to join the GHQ Line at Farnham [Source: Aldershot Command memorandum CRAC No.4 4/2997/55 (G), 17 July 1940 - PRO WO 199/55). It may have been extended to Woking.

Another day off work and a few more areas of interest plotted which i needed to visit and in some instances - revisit. The day didn't really bode well due to a light drizzle which often means getting wet feet, cold and eventually miserable in the search for pillboxes. There is often no easy route to be taken to any pillbox and can often mean wading through bracken, long grass, and thick forest. Each vertical line looks like the edge of that elusive pillbox and its akin to pillbox blindness after a while. This trip out was both rewarding and as usual, disappointing in others. That is pretty standard when out doing the research but it is never a great feeling. Often walking up to a local dog walker can either yield great local information or in some instances a sideways glance and a mumbled 'i'm not local to here' ends that particular conversation.

Tracking the line of defences back out at Deepcut and Pirbright and then switching back around to the underside of Aldershot is the area i am concentrating on in this report. There is possibly much still to be given up in those wooded areas and another visit is required to attempt to fit the pieces of the jigsaw together.

Starting out back on the B3015 and parking up on Bagshot Heath i cut across to the area detailed as a vehicle testing area.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011008

Parking up in the housing estate opposite to Pirbright Firing Range and crossing the road to the edge of the ranges, there is a path that follows the perimeter of the ranges. Sat up on the side of the range, fairly close to the fence is this type 24. Tantalizingly close but too far away to get any real detailed shots. The firing range was active with small arms fire that day and the warning signs and razor wire were enough to put off anyone!!

Parking up in Blackdown Road opposite to the Royal Logistic Corps Museum i then cut through the wooded area and crossed Firth Hill Road. I was actually heading towards the Golf course for the randomly scattered AT blocks but failed to actually get to these. It would have meant upsetting the golfers out for their day of pointless putting a ball around a manicured area of grass and we cannot have that can we. Unexpectedly i came across a pillbox that is not mapped on the EDoB so that was a real bonus.

Having three loopholes, a gun pit and a cut through to get into the gun pit, it was an unexpected and interesting find. The screenshots from my phone detail it's positioning. The blue dot in the image below in the lower right hand corner shows my GPS position.

Deciding not to get onto the Golf Course i then took a random route around the woods to see if i could find any more pillboxes. That was unsuccessful but there was various other items dotted around the area.

Heading back on myself into the area of Stone Castle which was in a previous report, i crossed over the Basingstoke Canal and found another tie down on the right hand side of the Brunswick Road Bridge to the Canal.

PILLBOX: S0010182

Back for a revisit to get the internal shots of the shelving.

I then crossed the road again and attempted to fine that elusive pillbox that is marked up as extent and must be out there somewhere. I again failed to fint it!!. There is plenty of evidence in this wooded area of military training. Quite a few trenches are in the area.

Driving down to Stanley Hill - this was another failure. The pillbox looks to have been removed. There is scattered brickwork around but as time was pressing on i decided that this area will need further and more intensive investigation. There is a logical dip to the side of the road where a pillbox could have sat but the EDoB hasn't always been accurate in exact plotting of pillboxes so this might be the wrong area i was looking in.

The Pre-Fab or Stent Pillbox

Prefabricated Shuttering made from Paving Slabs And Slotted Posts
Precast Loopholes
Usually has very poor quality concrete core.
Four Loopholes and Large Doorway
Wooden Shelves for Guns Fitted
Prone to Peeling with Age

Sat on the North side of the Basingstoke Canal and located near Cowshot Hill - this pre-fab has a concrete access path that runs from the side of the bridge over the canal. Never more than an infantry pillbox, the build of the pillbox was like an Airfix kit that was put together with bolts.

PILLBOX: S0010314

Facing South West and west of Woking, this pillbox is sat just to the side of the rail bridge to Blackhorse Road. Initially expecting it to be further down the road, i took a convoluted approach to this pillbox and had to cross over a stream which conveniently had a fallen tree over it. Non specified pillbox and possibly therefore a variant, the pillbox has five embrasures. One overlooking the entrance, one on each side of the pillbox and two at the front.

Time was really pressing on for me and the light levels would be dropping significantly enough to abandon further exploration. In the area of Ash Vale there are four confirmed and one possible pillbox but these will need to wait for another time. The final pillbox i came across was interesting to say the least. Actually built into Heathvale Bridge on the canal tow path, this pillbox has one entrance and it would have been accessible only from the south side of the bridge. Sadly it is completely bricked up as it internal walls would have been interesting to study. Either side of the pillbox there is evidence of hinges and base supports to close off the tow path.