Deciding to continue to track the line of pillboxes down to Bramley was an excellent way of keeping me from being bored in my days off. This route was initially not too familiar to me at the time but is now my standard route for getting to work. I still find myself gazing over into the fields looking for the pillboxes and thinking of the memories i had with a field full of nosy cows.
The Red Stop Line
Covering the area from Reading to Aldershot which is a small section of what this report covers. The map below is a great indication of how areas were zoned off and to be given up gradually if need be, in the event of any successful invasion.
The day was glorious so i made sure once again i carried the usual refreshments, food, torch, secateurs, towel, toilet roll, notepad, pens, and map of (in this case) Hampshire with all the pillboxes mapped out for me.
Out on this trip i crossed a rather cold River Lodden near Longbridge Mill which made a couple of parts of my nether regions give out a squeak and disappear. I also had to keep a lazy eye on the cows in the field who always seem to have a knack of following anyone or anything of interest to them. A few time i have been trapped inside a pillbox or had to hop over a fence when they take too much interest in me.
It also proves the ignorance of people who are working in an area and stare at me with a blank expression when i ask about the location of a pillbox. The blank stare back usually tells me to either change the subject or in this instance buy a pint and creep out silently after.
One area of interest to me was Bramley training area, formerly Bramley central ammunition depot. It is the only MOD site where first world war chemical warfare munitions are known to have been buried. Following the discovery in 1987 of CW munitions buried there, munition recovery and clearance work was carried out. The ammo depot at Bramley produced some interesting finds a couple of years ago in the form of chlorine gas in the bottom of a number of ammunition bunkers that had been grown over and neglected.
I did not know this at the time of my search. Thankfully so as i somehow ended up in this area accidentally when looking for a Pillbox. The Security at the main gate were excellent though and just asked me to remove myself off the premises.
My initial starting point for this explore was Heckfield Place just off the B3011.
ANTI TANK CYLINDER
Located at the side of the road opposite to Heckfield Place.
The Red Stop Line
Covering the area from Reading to Aldershot which is a small section of what this report covers. The map below is a great indication of how areas were zoned off and to be given up gradually if need be, in the event of any successful invasion.
The day was glorious so i made sure once again i carried the usual refreshments, food, torch, secateurs, towel, toilet roll, notepad, pens, and map of (in this case) Hampshire with all the pillboxes mapped out for me.
Out on this trip i crossed a rather cold River Lodden near Longbridge Mill which made a couple of parts of my nether regions give out a squeak and disappear. I also had to keep a lazy eye on the cows in the field who always seem to have a knack of following anyone or anything of interest to them. A few time i have been trapped inside a pillbox or had to hop over a fence when they take too much interest in me.
It also proves the ignorance of people who are working in an area and stare at me with a blank expression when i ask about the location of a pillbox. The blank stare back usually tells me to either change the subject or in this instance buy a pint and creep out silently after.
One area of interest to me was Bramley training area, formerly Bramley central ammunition depot. It is the only MOD site where first world war chemical warfare munitions are known to have been buried. Following the discovery in 1987 of CW munitions buried there, munition recovery and clearance work was carried out. The ammo depot at Bramley produced some interesting finds a couple of years ago in the form of chlorine gas in the bottom of a number of ammunition bunkers that had been grown over and neglected.
I did not know this at the time of my search. Thankfully so as i somehow ended up in this area accidentally when looking for a Pillbox. The Security at the main gate were excellent though and just asked me to remove myself off the premises.
My initial starting point for this explore was Heckfield Place just off the B3011.
ANTI TANK CYLINDER
Located at the side of the road opposite to Heckfield Place.
Parking up on the side of Basingstoke Road and walking back to the property the pillbox was on, i was met with an intercom. The owner of the property was initially suspicious that i was from the local council, but having explained the reason for wishing to document the pillbox, he was quite interested in any information i could give him.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22)
Type 22 infantry pillbox. Flood's Farm. Build onto the flood plain of the River Lodden and situated in the rear of a garden. The pillbox has the set of steps to counteract any potential flooding. Faces South.
Corrugated roof shuttering and no AR wall.
Longbridge Mill
The River Lodden. Thankfully shallow enough for me to walk across once i took my boots and socks off. It was refreshing to say the least!
The bane of my life.
PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0010928
Mill at Sherfield on Loddon, on island. Type 22 brick-shuttered pillbox - faces North. Good condition but overgrown. Built on small island, set high to avoid flooding. Five steps up to interior. Weapon support wells on each shelf. Corrugated roof shuttering in situ.
The reason i rapidly learnt to get the secateurs. Mature and vicious brambles.
See what i mean!
The easy route back over the Lodden.
Accidentally into Bramley central ammunition depot.
PILLBOX (VARIANT): S0007842
On top of guard house, Taylors Gate, Command Ammunition Depot, Bramley. Pillbox, no specification. Rectangular brick-shuttered pillbox - faces SE. In excellent condition. Built on top of the guard house to the Command Ammunition Depot. Access from the guard house.PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/26): S0010960
Outside the perimeter of the Command Ammunition Depot (CAD), Bramley. Pillbox - type 26. Good condition. Remains of blackout curtain. Asbestos shutters and roof shuttering in situ. Concrete shelves in place.Faces West.PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/26): S0010965
Outside the perimeter of the Command Ammunition Depot (CAD), Bramley. Square brick-shuttered type 26 pillbox - faces W. Pillbox - type 26. Good condition. Well built up, four steps up to entrance. Remains of blackout curtain. Concrete shelves.
The view from the road.
Only a short but interesting trip out of me. My very first evidence of blackout curtains. I still could not locate the two pillboxes up on the Rail embankment further down the road. Just located 10 minutes away in a car, this report has refreshed my memory that i need to get back out into this area.
Thanks for reading the report.
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