Defence of Britain Archive
Council for British Archaeology, 2002. (updated 2006) https://doi.org/10.5284/1000327. How to cite using this DOI
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Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 324
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000327
- How to cite using this DOI
FW3/28A variant (brick-skinned) situated in grounds of Bodiam Castle, built on elevated ground overlooking river and railway. 7 embrasures, 1 large, 3 medium, 3 small. Wood shelves inside on medium embrasures.
with PLAN
(Source: Field Visit 1996/03/31)
Pentagonal pillbox, brick shuttered. 6pdr. embrasure in front wall covers minor road bridge over River Rother. LMG embrasures in other walls, and embrasure in attached blast wall at rear. Bad crack in one wall.
(Source: Field Visit 1995/08/06)
Two-chamber pillbox: N chamber to house gun to cover River Rother bridge crossing. S chamber to house 4 x machine gun positions. Access by ramp from NE corner.
(Source: Field Visit 1999/02/06)
Anti-tank gun emplacement, brick-shuttered. Rear entrance with shelter wall. Main gun embrasure faces due S. Ventilation holes above embrasures are channels run in the roof.
[from plans and drawing made by J. Gerken].
(Source: Field Visit 1975/09/21)
Gun emplacement clad entirely with brick. The entrance is too small for a wheeled anti-tank gun. It is protected by a retaining wall to an earth embankment behind and to the side. The distance between the retaining wall and the wall of the emplacement is a gap of no more than 18ins. Allowing access to the interior is a ramp of concrete leading downwards from the ground above and running along the back wall. At the end of the ramp is a shorter return wall, therefore a right-angled turn is needed to enter the emplacement after first stepping down. The plan is not the usual rectangular one, the corners having been angled. The embrasures are square rather than rectangular. Behind, yet central to the main embrasure, is a square pillar which is surmounted by a circular plate of metal. In the main compartment, along the right-hand wall and the rear one, there are two supports of brick or concrete which appear to be supports for a bench or firing step. On the left hand side is an internal dividing wall; a vent that joins two sides of the emplacement pierces the wall about shoulder height. The secondary compartment has 3 gun embrasures. In the ceiling at various points around the wall are holes approx.6ins square which cross the wall, then descend to exit through the outer skin of the wall forming air vents. Two appear in each wall.
(Source: Field Visit 1997/01)
Anti-tank gun emplacement, scheduled with the adjoining castle.
(Source: English Heritage schedule )
| Official Name | Bodiam Castle |
|---|---|
| Type of site | PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A) |
| Location | Bodiam Castle, Bodiam - on the S side, between the car park and the castle moat. |
| Area |
Bodiam, Sussex, East, England |
| Grid reference |
TQ 785 255
(Scale: 1:25000
, 1992)
|
| Period | WW2 |
| Condition | Good |
| Materials | Clay Brick, Reinforced Concrete |
| Recorder | Farthing, Geoff (Pillbox Study Group) |
| Defence grouping |
South East Command: Corps (Rother) Stop Line - Stop line section from Uckfield to Romney Marsh. |
| Attached Sheets | (2) - plans and drawings. |
| Photographs |
(6) - 5 exterior views 1 interior, inc. 4 photocopies (2 DIGITISED). |
| DOB site reference: | S0001516 |
| Associated Identifier | Scheduled Monument (ref: 24405) |
| Original Reference | 6825 |
| Reference |
2000/04 The Second World War Pillbox at Bodiam Castle, Sussex: A Report to the National Trust 1985 Pillboxes: A Study of UK Defences 1996/03 The Bodiam 6pdr |
| Event |
Field Visit, On 1995/08/06 Field Visit, On 1996/03/31 Construction, In the period 1940 1941 Field Visit, During 1997 Field Visit, On 1975/09/21 Field Visit, On 1999/02/06 Field Visit, During 1997/01 Field Visit, In the period 1992 1994 |
