Four pillboxes - Tilehurst - Whitchurch on Thames

Having a few hours to kill off the other day i decided to go out for a cycle ride and head out on the North side of the Thames to pick up a pillbox that was firstly well concealed and then three others that were possibly going to be hit and miss if i could get to them. Having checked GE it was really a case of accessibility as there are a couple dotted along the thames where housing estates can prove an effective obstacle. I know of a pillbox and a gun emplacement located on Heartslock Island that would need a boat to get to. Hmmmm rubber dingy time i think! As it happened the pillboxes i got to on the North side of the Thames were not too difficult. Further up the Thames there is another gun emplacement which i also will attempt to get to though technically this is off limits. Anyhow it was a sunny day (finally) and only a 30 minute cycle ride away :

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/26): S0001703

Listed as a variant.  Discussions with other Pillbox freaks indicate that this is an OP. The entrance would be track side and down a steep bank.  Not for the faint hearted with that smell of rotten animal around.

Heavily overgrown and located by the side of the road with a steep bank behind it as it is running along the rail embankment. There was also a pervasive smell of a rotting carcass somewhere nearby and the smell was not the best. The embrasures are bricked up and the pillbox is actually built in and an extension of the wall running along the rail embankment.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28 TWIN): S0005705
Located on the south bank of the Thames, north of the rail lines this twin embrasure 28 would have had a north and north west field of fire which would have covered the bridge over the Thames leading from Whitchurch On Thames into Pangbourne. Being a little cheeky i cycled up the private access road and was met immediately my someone who challenged me. Again after explaining what i was up to - i was allowed to photograph the externals. All the embrasures have had windows placed in them, a satalite dish has been attached and this could be the shed of all sheds for some lucky person.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22)
Heading into Whitchurch On Thames i locked the bike up near the sewage farm and cut across the field to a gate in the corner which led nicely to an access path to the Thames. This pillbox is sat right on the bank and to the right of the path as you head down it. As you can see - not accessible.  The internal shots i took were through the embrasures.  

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0012074
Heading up the side of the riverbank and in the corner of the field, the walk to this pillbox was fairly easy as there is a narrow path leading most of the way along the river bank, cutting back into the field and sat in the hedge.

And finally the walk back to the bike and the cycle ride home.