Pillboxes, thrills and heartache!: The Kennet And Avon Canal

Taking in another cycle ride along the Kennet late 2011. The best way to keep fit but also a pain when it comes to losing the bike to go off for and explore off the beaten track. There are still three pillboxes behind the pillbox below that i need to reach. A strange experience this one. The pillbox below was not far off a public footpath over the bridge yet i was still challenged by someone getting precious about me paying particular interest in the pillbox!

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0001704

West of Newbury and Northcroft Bridge, on North bank of Kennet & Avon Canal, adjacent to Lambourn Valley Way footpath and South of Northcroft. Type 22 pillbox, wood-shuttered, in good condition, situated on bank of canal with field of fire South towards railway and Newbury.

Continuing on there are remnants of when the canal was at it's peak as a trading route. Old fencing, a disused bridge where the span has been taken down.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008850

Enborne House, on the North side of Enborne Lock, Kennet and Avon Canal, Enborne. In a fenced off enclosure adjacent to Guyer's Lock, on the North side of Enborne Bridge. Partly overgrown, especially on the canal side, from which it is hidden from view. The entrance side is completely covered with colourful graffiti. Internally untidy but otherwise appears structurally sound.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008847

Benham Lock, West of Pickletimber railway bridge, North of Kennet and Avon Canal, Enborne. One of a pair of pillboxes on either side of the track over Benham Bridge, on the North bank of canal. This pillbox is hidden from the lock by the bridge and its raised approach. Some minor deterioration but generally in good condition internally and externally.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008843

West of Benham Bridge on North bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, Enborne. Type 22 pillbox defending Benham Bridge from the South across canal. Pillbox is set into bank of road leading to bridge.One of a pair of pillboxes on either side of the track over Benham Bridge, on the North bank of canal, facing lock. Shell-proof. Unrecognisable from canal side and easy to miss. On private land. Able to gain access to inspect interior. Visible parts of exterior appear to be in good condition.

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL: S0008846

Kennet and Avon Canal, Enborne. Benham Bridge.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008844

East side of Benham Bridge on the North bank.
Pillbox is set into bank of road leading to bridge. One of a pair of pillboxes on either side of the track over Benham Bridge. Some deterioration around the rim of the roof, but otherwise structurally good internally and externally.

Defence number 371.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008840

Kennet and Avon Canal, Enborne. North Bank of Canal. Set slightly back from the tow path. Viewed by scrambling over the fencing into the marshy ground.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008841

North bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, adjacent to weir, Benham. Type 22 pillbox, shell-proof. Adjacent to canal towpath, but fenced off as on private land. Some deterioration around the rim of the roof but otherwise in good condition. With field of fire South across canal and to West across weir. Wood-shuttered. Crack along casting line of roof section.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0006476

At Hamstead Lock on West side of bridge, on North bank of Kennet and Avon Canal. One of a pair of pillboxes on either side of unclassified road where it crosses the canal. Partly sunk into side of road. Set low in ground with embrasures at road level. Field of fire South over bridge and across canal to the South. Wood-shuttered. Identification no. 365. 3 x embrasures.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0006477

At Hamstead Lock, on the North bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, on the East side by canal bridge. One of a pair of pillboxes on either side of unclassified road where it crosses the canal. Type 22 pillbox set low in ground with embrasures at ground level to road. Field of fire South across bridge and canal.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008839

East of Copse Lock on canal path, North bank of Kennet and Avon Canal, Speen Standard type 22 pillbox situated on North bank of canal with field of fire South. Concrete plinth approx. 1m wide all around the pillbox. Shell-proof.

I have such fond memories of this pillbox! I had a disastrous approach to this. Thinking it was ok to climb the barbed wire and precariously perch myself for purchase onto another fencepost - i succeeded in missing this post, slipping and somehow wrapping my foot around the barbed wire and being helplessly upended and suspended from the fence. I had to get my mate who was out cycling with me to free me. Not a good moment as i lost my camera battery \and ended up photographing the pillbox on my iPhone. It wasn't one of my better moments shall we say!

The iPhone shots:

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL

Dreweats Lock Bridge - Sockets.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0008824

North of Kennet and Avon Canal and North of railway, to the West of Kintbury. Type 22 pillbox. On private land, backing onto woods, facing railway and canal footbridge. Some external deterioration is evident at a distance but generally appears to be in good condition. On the North side of railway with field of fire South across railway and canal. Wood shuttered.

ANTI TANK VERTICAL RAIL: S0008825

Kennet and Avon Canal, Kintbury. Anti-tank 'hedgehog' [vertical rail].

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/22): S0006478

At Denford Mill Gate, North of Kennet and Avon Canal near Dunmill Lock Bridge. Type 22 brick-shuttered pillbox. Shuttering formed of 'end-on' bricks. Doorway on North side. Faces South over bridges. Large interior concrete anti-ricochet wall. Small stepped embrasures set into square, pre-cast concrete surrounds. Field of fire South towards Dunmill Lock Bridge. Brick-shuttered (exterior), wood-shuttered (interior). Concrete blast wall. Brickwork eroded.

PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A): S0006479

On top of bank at corner of road on South side of Kennet & Avon Canal and Dunmill Lock.
One of a pair of impressively situated pillboxes (type 28As), perched on top of a narrow embankment between road/railway bridge on one side and Kennet and Avon Canal on the other. Positioned on a sharp bend in the road with wide embrasures for 2-pdr. guns to defend both directions. Small bren gun chambers on other sides and massive doorway facing no.2 gun emplacement a few feet away. Brick exterior shuttering, decayed in places. On bend of Hungerford Road, with main field of fire East and South. Brick external shuttering, wood-shuttered interior. Large external base/plinth. Identification no. 339. 1985 Type28a anti-tank gun emplacement. Type 28A anti-tank gun emplacement with two massive stepped embrasures, one facing South along lane over railway bridge and the other facing East along lane towards Dunmill Lock. Brick-shuttered externally, but the brickwork is eroding and falling away. Cut-off corners and chamfered roof edge. Entrance on West side. Two side LMG chambers with dividing walls, one to North with two LMG embrasures and the other to West with one. There are also vents, each with three vertical iron bars across them. Has no. 339 painted at entrance. The emplacement has a high North wall to support it on the side of a steep bank. Used as cattle shelter and full of dirt and rubbish. Its companion lies a few yards to the West. Public access, including interior.