Semington to Challymead (part 2)

As with all explores - i find them to be a mixed bag of satisfaction, interest, revelation and sometimes hugely frustrating. As mentioned in the earlier thread, i was to come unstuck attempting to find public paths as a diagonal cut through instead of having to hit the main roads in the area. There were natural dangers of walking the verges of A roads with lorries thundering past. Also at that time of day i had ran out of drink, thought i'd found a cafe (signage still in place) only to find out it was part of the MOT test centre so i had to trek to a village to find a pub to quench my thirst. This again involved getting off the main road to find a non existent public right of way. By then the frustration was telling and i'd almost run out of ciggies to add to the impending doom. The bonus of the bogus cafe was finding a plane sat on the grass by the entrance (I think it is a Provost but may be wrong). Anyway onto the photos and continuing report.

Back out at Whaddon Grove Farm i was given permission to walk through the courtyard to the rear of the farm to pick up th pillbox located there. Initially i couldn't find it but eventually after closer inspection of a tell tale clump of foliage i could see the entrance to the pillbox.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0016294
After climbing over the hay and tyres dumped in front of the pillbox i was able to gain entry. The external shots were pretty impossible given the growth surrounding all sides of the pillbox.

Rome random farm debris!!

Amazingly i missed the pillbox located on the other side of the courtyard but will be back for that one. Particularly as this is the route i shall be taking to get to the other side of the Avon. No worries there but i feel a little stupid when it would have been a quick win.
Cutting back down the track of the farm and heading back to the redundant rail embankment to finally follow the embankment to the Avon i picked up the pillbox which would have been sat track side up on the bank.
This is the second pillbox i found where corrugated iron was used to cast the base.

The original rail line would have sat here heading out towards where the existing mainline track for today exists.



PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0000200

Certainly much more overgrown than the Dob layer photo and i was unable to get into the entrance. what didn't help was the surrounding hawthorn bushes which i have more than brambles. I crawled though as best i could and got though on the eastern facing side of the pillbox. The northern and western sides were completely overgrown so i took what photos i could.

Old bridge support over the Avon

And finally i hit the River Avon.

Cutting through the long and boggy grass i then continued until i got to the bridge over the Avon.
The site of the vertical rails on the western side of the bridge.

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL: S0011870

Very narrow indeed.

All in all i counted 5 sockets.


Some more gratuitous photos of a gorgeous area,

A decision had to be made here. Head south to the line of pillboxes running east of the main rail line or head north. Ii decided to go North and will pick the other pillboxes up next visit.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011871

At last a porch which i have never come across before. The sun was out hip hip horay. I was even drying out at this point. The wind was picking up nicely.

Slightly muddy underfoot and apparently prone to flooding during the winter.

The proximity of the bridge and rails.

It was at this point when i was met by the owner of Monkton Farm who had come out to meet me to ensure i was not up to no good. We had a good chat and initially she was slightly reluctant to let me view the pillbox on her property. With a little engaging chat about the countryside, my love of the scenery and the fact that i only wanted to gain her permission to view the pillbox i was told to meet her on the rear access road to the fields. She was a lovely lady who helped me with information on how to get to the other pillboxes and that i would be on a public right of way so there would be no issues there. I only photographed the externals as i didn't want to push her hospitality.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0014380

A rather alarming subsidence crack is starting to appear.

Bidding my goodbye i then made my way North East and following the line of the Avon. As was indicated - the fields consisted of short grass, the sun was out, i stripped off most of my top layers to cool off and there was an excellent cross wind. Life couldn't be better at this point.

Sat in a copse of trees along the hedgerow :

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0014381

In a few years the tree will have a disastrous effect on the pillbox porch.

Separation has already occurred.

Flooded - as i was to find out at cost.  I should have switched my torch on first- not afterwards.

Another gratuitous view of the Avon but there is a pillbox in the photo.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011872

Note the lipped porch roof which is a slight variant in build to the previous pillboxes.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24): S0011873

Evident where this pillbox was in the field but i could just make out the brickwork at first. Kicking back some of the brambles and nettles to get the only photo i could.

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The view from the other side - no chance!!

The enticing entrance to what i thought was a cafe. Parched at this point it was like an oasis which in typical fashion failed to deliver.

Sat out front........

It was at this point i called it a day. Time was getting on and the lure of a pub and the England match was beckoning. Just a matter of making it back home in time.

Thanks for your patience in reading this report.