From a Loophole to The Kennet - Oct 2011

Catching up with a few areas visited from almost two years back. This is a brief trip out along the area of Burghfield and out onto the Kennet and Avon Canal. Further up the road and to the left side of Burghfield bridge was a Type 28A but this has long since been removed.  The area covered is sporadic due to covering and completing some of the gaps in the defensive line along the Kennet so please bear with me on this report.

DEFENDED BUILDING: S0011424

Stable house at Iverne House, 100m S of Burghfield Bridge. Fortified house - stable house converted into a shell-proof infantry strongpoint. Type 22 pillbox, adjacent to footbridge on N bank of canal. Surrounded by trees and bushes, but not overgrown. Internally good. STABLE CONVERTED INTO DOUBLE STOREY PILLBOX. NOW A SUMMERHOUSE. EMBRASURES HAVE COVERS. ALL ROUND VISION. EXCELLENT EXAMPLE. CONVERTED AND EXTENDED 1994 TO FORM A FOUR BEDROOM HOUSE.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008879

Old Mill House Bridge (Froud's Bridge), Kennet and Avon Canal, Woolhampton. Type 28a anti-tank gun emplacement. LARGE RECTANGULAR PILLBOX ON NORTH EAST SIDE OF FROUD'S BRIDGE. IS ONE OF A PAIR, THE OTHER ON THE SOUTH WEST SIDE OF THE BRIDGE WAS DESTROYED.

In very poor condition indeed.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008878

A4 road (Bath Road), Woolhampton. Type 28a anti-tank gun emplacement. LARGE PILLBOX (RECTANGULAR) WITH ARTILLERY EMBRASURES. CONCRETE WITH BRICK SHUTTERING. IS ON HIGHER GROUND OVER LOOKING THE CANAL, AND IS SOUTH FACING.

Initially a bit of a beast to get to as it was located behind a large metal gate.   Getting to it involved tucking my bike into the bushes and finding enough crawl space to get through the bushes.  Finding one and cutting back towards the pillbox involved walking through a porta-loo storage area.  It's great to see the brick shuttering almost complete on this 28.

Something dead on the shelving was kicking off a hell of a stink!

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008509

West of Wickham Knight's footbridge on N bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, Woolhampton. The site is surrounded by trees, in good condition and intact. The entire structure tilts away from the canal, probably where the bank falls away to softer ground. However, there are no significant cracks in the walls or visible foundations, so it is probably now stable. Type 22 pillbox situated on N bank of canal, with field of fire S across canal. Wood-shuttered, with Y-shaped blast wall. Identification number 'L35' on blast wall.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008576

North bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, between railway and canal, between Woolhampton Bridge and Wickham Knight's Bridge, East of Midgham Station, Woolhampton. At water's edge - foundations partly eroded away. Entrance on East side. Type 28A anti-tank gun emplacement. Field of fire West towards Midgham - Brimpton road. Brick-shuttered with sloped concrete roof Embrasure surround facing canal is painted white. 

An often cycled past pillbox that was destined for an actual visit.

The usual view from the South bank of the Kennet

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0008873

East of Midgham Bridge. Type 28a anti-tank gun emplacement. Now destroyed. east facing main embrasure.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0006481

Colthrop Mill, East of Colthrop Weir, Midgham, on South bank of Kennet and Avon Canal. Pillbox, type 28a, with brick exterior shuttering and no rearward LMG embrasure - by canal lock.  Type 28a, adjacent to tow path on South bank of canal, next to weir and lock. Interior fully accessible - untidy but generally in good condition. Whole area being tidied up as part of tow path improvements.  Type 28a anti-tank gun emplacement, brick exterior shuttering, situated on South side of canal. Field of fire West along canal. Wood-shuttered interior with concrete blast/dividing wall. 3 x medium embrasures, 1 x large embrasure. Sections of emplacement exterior painted white to aid canal navigation. No identification number survives.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0006482

Near, and East of, Thatcham Station, on the North bank of the Kennet and Avon Canal, between the railway and the canal. Type 22 pillbox near Thatcham Station. Field of fire South across canal and towards Thatcham - Headley road. Pillbox has what appears to be a 2in flanged pipe sticking out of the roof [assumed to be not part of the original construction]. Type 22 pillbox. On N bank of canal, on narrow strip of land immediately behind the westbound platform of Thatcham railway station. It has some sort of metal pipe protruding from the roof - possibly ventilation [?].

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008864

Monkey Marsh Lock, on South bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, Thatcham.
Type 22 pillbox, shell-proof. Partly sunk into South bank of canal adjacent to turf-sided lock that is a scheduled ancient monument. Opposite side to tow path. Internally untidy but generally in good condition. Field of fire South across meadow. Set into bank of lock with semi-sunken entrance. Concrete, wood-shuttered blast wall. Damage to roof. Interior condition, fair.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008861

East of Lower Farm, Greenham - South of Hambridge Lane railway bridge, North bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, Thatcham. Alongside tow path on North bank of canal, facing Lower Farm. Surrounded by trees and bushes, and partly overgrown. On private land, hence unable to gain access to interior. Appears to be used for storage purposes, possibly in connection with Newbury Angling Association Lakes nearby. Wood-shuttered, on bank of canal with field of fire S across flood plain.

Just a catch up with an old report but i hope you find it interesting.

Thanks for viewing.