Semington to Challymead (part 1)

Good day all. Back from another two day yomp around and again i thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The local populace were very accommodating when it came to asking permission to view pillboxes on their property with one owner at Monkton Farm asking if i had been there a couple of weeks ago.  Eventually after a great discussion she was very helpful allowing me to walk through the farm to meet her at the access road to get to the pillbox. Even though i had mapped out the pillboxes leading up to Challymead, the advice given was sound as she indicated the crops had been taken in and it was ok to walk the fields to the rear of her property.
The first day of weather was the usual drizzle, slightly heavier rain and wind, with the second day being sun, rain and wind but thankfully mostly sun. By the end of it all i was fed up attempting to get down public rights of way that were not there and having to skirt the fields to get back out again. It tested my resolve and by the second day i had to skip a tempting line of pillboxes running between the River Avon and the rail line and head into Berryfield to start my journey home. I will get back to those the next time i am out there and pick off the areas i missed out or simply couldn't reach due to the natural brooks or being the wrong side of the Avon with limited ability to cross.

Firstly training it into Trowbridge i then walked back eastwards to get to the two pillboxes on the North bank of the Kennet and Avon canal just east of Seend Park Farm. Walking the Public Access path heading towards Semington i took in the Vertical Rail on Pound Lane first before heading North to get to the Kennet.

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL: S0016443

Cutting through a farm to head towards the rail sockets.

The actual rail sockets - these can be hit or miss when attempting to locate.  They are often covered over in mud so it was a good find for the day.  On active farm track, i gave way to the farmer in his tractor as he was watching me scrabbling around in the mud.

Heading up the path to the Semington Swing bridge there are two AT Cylinders on the North bank on the left side and two on the South Bank on the Right as you approach.

ANTI TANK CYLINDER: S0008683
The Ivy is starting to take hold again. One cylinder is covered completely.

Having a nose at what i was up to. I had an interesting experience with a herd of cows later in the trip. Thankfully the bull in the field i was in looked but didn't take too much of an interest in me.

ANTI TANK CYLINDER: S0008682

On the south bank.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0008680
Out onto the Kennet and heading eastwards. This pillbox is sat on the southern side and i decided to visit it later on the trip.

ANTI TANK CYLINDER: S0008685
North bank of the Semington Aqueduct - as you look over the top you will see them sat on the left bank. One is just visible. Sadly despite getting over to the south side to view the two located there - it was too heavily overgrown to view them.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008695

Continuing along the North side of the canal and sat right on the edge of Giles Wood. To access this pillbox it is best to enter Giles wood on the public access path and then turn immediately right towards the pillbox. Thankfully there is a track and the grass had been conveniently cut allowing access. It is possible to just see the pillbox from the tow path but impossible to access it from that side.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008696

The middle pillbox in a line of three and the last of the pillboxes on this stretch that i wanted to view. To get to this pillbox i jumped the muddy brook and crossed the field of long grass. The entrance was heavily overgrown with nettles and dead brambles initially protected the entrance until i hacked away at them. I still had to crawl in on my hands and knees to gain access though.

Can someone shed some light on this for me. I have seen a few of these around and the slot intrigues me. Surely it is not just for attaching barbed wire to.

Internally chaved.

The embrasures seem to be crudely finished off for some reason.

By now it had started to rain really heavily and the rest of this days trip was not much fun slipping and sliding in the mud. I started to head back towards Semington and look for the rail slots and get to the type 28 at the rear of Manor Farm.

ANTI TANK DITCH (NATURAL IMPROVED): S0016362

Spot the Bull in the field. When i entered the field he stood up and looked at me but just paid me casual interest thankfully. Luckily (initially) i was to head away from him to get to the rail slots.

Sat at the bottom of the field in hellish mud and difficult to find as a result. I spent ages digging a few out with a spoon to attempt a good photo. I'm not too happy with the results. The Dob says removed and they are to a certain extent. They have been smashed up and scattered in the next field. There was a lot is bricks and debris in this field.

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL: S0016365

The only shot worth using.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008691
To the rear of the farm house and across the cow muck filled sheds, i climbed the gate to walk around the pillbox.

A view of the western facing entrance.

Cutting back out into the field where the bull was i tried to hop over the gate to the next field and walk into the housing estate but was thwarted. Trapped between a rock and a hard place i sat and humoured the herd for a while. The bull was in the field i had just come from so stuck!!

Eventually after 20 minutes of nothing happening aside form various cows jostling for position i chickened out and retraced my steps keeping a close eye on the bull and crossing back over the bridge.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008113
Finally into Semington and sat looking over Seminton High Street. The gun embrasure faces south west providing an opposite field of fire from the type 28 sat at the rear of Manor Farm.

Choice graffiti.

As i stated - i have a real soft spot for a church.

Sadly i missed out the type 28 to the east of Semington and the cylinders further up the road but as i say - another day is needed out here to catch everything. I headed out to the church to the rear of the field where i had hope to see the type 24 sat in the hedgerow leading up to it but three attempts to find it failed. It is buried deep and impossible to get to.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0008680
Heading back out to this pillbox i has spotted the previous day - the sun finally broke through into what turned out to be a sunny but windy day. Finally the layers could come off!!

Heading North to Outmarsh Farm - the farm lies just south of the rail line that has long since been removed. The embrasure to the type 28 faces south west.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008679

Cutting along the line of where the old railtrack lay i then headed down to Semington Brook and followed the lay of the river hoping to find the three pillboxes in the area. A total failure so i headed for the easier target of the type 28 where i sat for a bite to eat, clean up and a change of clothing.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008689

Southern facing.

ANTI TANK CYLINDER: S0000179

5 cylinders on the left side and 4 on the right as you face North.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0000203

This is where it got interesting. Thankfully i spoke to the farmers wife and explained what i was up to. The pillbox i wished to view was in the adjoining property but was buried. After it was explained that the pillbox was being converted into some weird kind of Celtic storage area!!!, this lady kindly led me up to the builder who was doing this rather sad conversion. I was allowed to go in to view the pillbox. The gun embrasure would have been southern facing but is completely bricked and skimmed now. Some of the internals are still evident so i photographed those amongst the clutter. I shall keep my opinions out of this one but you can imagine my thoughts.

The view of the bridge.  The AT cylinders are stiuated either side of the river bank.

I shall post the rest of the report up later. Thanks for your patience in looking at the report. Long i know!!