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
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.
(Source: Field Visit 1999/03/22)
Twin type 28a anti-tank gun emplacement situated on bend of Hungerford Road, with main field of fire E and S. Brick external shuttering, wood-shuttered interior. Large external base/plinth. Identification no. 339.
(Source: Field Visit 2000/08/30)
Type28a anti-tank gun emplacement. This pillbox was used in an experiment housing a 2pdr. A/Tk gun for a BBC 'Chronicle' programme in 1979.
(Source: Photograph 1985)
Type 28A anti-tank gun emplacement with two massive stepped embrasures, one facing S along lane over railway bridge and the other facing E 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 W side. Two side LMG chambers with dividing walls, one to N with two LMG embrasures and the other to W 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 N wall to support it on the side of a steep bank. Used as cattle shelter and full of dirt and rubbish. Its companion [see UORN 6480] lies a few yards to the W. Public access, including interior.
(Source: Field Visit 2003/09/03)
Rectangular structure plotted from OS 1:2500 sheet.
(Source: Map 1968)
Large square pillbox structure plotted from air photograph. It shows a dark central feature.
(Source: Air Photograph 1941/06/11)
| Type of site | PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/28A) |
|---|---|
| Location | On top of bank at corner of road on S side of Kennet & Avon Canal and Dunmill Lock. |
| Area |
Hungerford, Berkshire, England |
| Grid reference |
SU 35058 68160
(Scale: 1:2500
, 1968)
|
| Period | WW2 |
| Condition | Fair |
| Materials | Clay Brick, Reinforced Concrete |
| Threats |
Type: Road construction (Long Term) Detail: Pillbox could be affected by any future road widening. Type: Development (Immediate) Detail: There is a current (9.03) proposal to develop the emplacement (with its companion, UORN 6480) as a restaurant. Local villagers are strongly against this, although it is admitted 'something should be done' to maintain the pillboxes. Type: Plant growth (Long Term) Detail: The emplacement is partly overgrown. |
| Recorder | Cole, Chris |
| Defence grouping |
GHQ Line: Blue - Section of GHQ Stop Line running from near Melksham to Reading. |
| Photographs |
(8) - 7 exterior views (slides and prints), 1 interior (1 DIGITISED). |
| Adjacent sites | Second type 28A pillbox a few feet away: type 28 pillbox to W (SU 351683) and type 22 to N (SU 352684). |
| DOB site reference: | S0006479 |
| Reference |
1985 Pillboxes: A Study of UK Defences 1941/06/11 210TU/BR352 (fr.3) |
| Event |
Construction, In the period 1940 1941 Field Visit, On 1999/03/22 Field Visit, On 2003/09/03 Field Visit, On 2000/08/30 |
