Small pillbox built into a hedge line to the north of Peacock Cottage. This varies considerably from the standard Second World War designs, although there were known variations. The Cleadon pillbox is a circular structure built of shuttered concrete and set with a slightly conical concrete roof.
SITEASS
The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}.
Site Type: Broad
Fortification
SITEDESC
Small pillbox built into a hedge line to the north of Peacock Cottage. This varies considerably from the standard Second World War designs, although there were known variations. The Cleadon pillbox is a circular structure built of shuttered concrete and set with a slightly conical concrete roof.
Site Name
Cleadon, Pillbox
Site Type: Specific
Pillbox
HER Number
1786
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 1786 >> A. Rudd, 1989, Existing Sites of Pillboxes in Tyne and Wear; Northern Archaeological Associates, 2015, The Cleadon Village Atlas p220
YEAR1
2001
YEAR2
2015
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
COMP2
Clare Henderson
DAY1
12
DAY2
20
District
S Tyneside
Easting
440828
Grid ref figure
10
HISTORY_TOPIC
World Wars
Map Sheet
NZ46SW
MONTH1
6
MONTH2
3
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 46 SW 117
Northing
561325
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Second World War 1939 to 1945
Place
Whitburn
Description
Historic Ordnance Survey Map evidence show a former gun emplacement at this location. Now sealed up and used as viewing platform with park benches on top of it. It is a rare survival.
Site Type: Broad
Fortification
SITEDESC
Former gun emplacement. Now sealed up and used as viewing platform with park benches on top of it. Rare survival {1}. A Second World War gun emplacement, associated military buildings, pillboxes, air raid shelters, ordnance stores and tank traps (anti tank cubes) are visible as structures and earthworks on air photographs. They are centred at NZ 4087 6138.
The gun emplacement is located at NZ 4086 6138, the ordnance stores are at NZ 4078 6132, and the anti tank cubes are located around NZ 4080 6125.
Site Name
Whitburn, Whitburn Bents Road, Gun Emplacement
Site Type: Specific
Gun Emplacement
HER Number
1785
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 1785 >> A. Rudd, 1989, Existing Sites of Pillboxes in Tyne and Wear; NMR Monument Number 1462995; (1) Vertical aerial photograph reference number RAF 106G/UK/1316 5272 27-MAR-1946 (2) Vertical aerial photograph reference number RAF 106G/UK/873 6153 01-OCT-1945
YEAR1
2001
YEAR2
2021
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
Crossref
5425
DAY1
12
District
S Tyneside
Easting
435400
Grid ref figure
6
HISTORY_TOPIC
World Wars
Map Sheet
NZ36SE
MONTH1
6
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
560600
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Second World War 1939 to 1945
Place
West Boldon
Description
Historic Ordnance Survey Map evidence show a pillbox of Second World War origin at this location.
SITEASS
The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}.
Site Type: Broad
Fortification
SITEDESC
Pillbox.
Site Name
West Boldon, pillbox
Site Type: Specific
Pillbox
HER Number
1784
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 1784 >> A. Rudd, 1989, Existing Sites of Pillboxes in Tyne and Wear
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
12
District
Sunderland
Easting
441450
Grid ref figure
8
HISTORY_TOPIC
World Wars
Map Sheet
NZ45NW
MATERIAL
Concrete
MONTH1
6
Grid Reference
NZ
NMRNUMBER
NZ 45 NW 567
Northing
557230
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Second World War 1939 to 1945
Place
Sunderland
Description
This is an unusual circular concrete pillbox with a conical roof. It has a door on its west side and a number of horizontal gun slits. It is partially buried in soil.
SITEASS
The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}.
Site Type: Broad
Fortification
SITEDESC
This is an unusual circular concrete pillbox with a conical roof. It has a door on its west side and a number of horizontal gun slits. It is partially buried in soil {2}. A Second World War pillbox is visible as a structure on air photographs, at NZ 4144 5753.
(3 and 4)
Site Name
South Dock, Pillbox
Site Type: Specific
Pillbox
HER Number
1783
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 1783 >> A. Rudd, 1989, Existing Sites of Pillboxes in Tyne and Wear; K. Hunter-Mann, York Archaeological Trust, 2009, Hudson Dock East, Barrack Street, Sunderland - Desk Based Assessment; NMR MONUMENT NUMBER: 1462996; RAF 106G/UK/873 6018 01-OCT-1945
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
12
District
Sunderland
Easting
437300
Grid ref figure
6
HISTORY_TOPIC
World Wars
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MONTH1
6
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
550700
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Second World War 1939 to 1945
Place
Warden Law
Description
Historic Ordnance Survey Map evidence show a pillbox of Second World War origin at this location.
SITEASS
The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}.
Site Type: Broad
Fortification
SITEDESC
Pillbox.
Site Name
Warden Law, Pillbox
Site Type: Specific
Pillbox
HER Number
1782
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 1782 >> A. Rudd, 1989, Existing Sites of Pillboxes in Tyne and Wear
YEAR1
2001
English, British
ADDITINF
y
Class
Defence
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
COMP2
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
12
DAY2
04
District
Sunderland
Easting
435170
Grid ref figure
8
HISTORY_TOPIC
World Wars
Map Sheet
NZ35SE
MATERIAL
Reinforced Concrete
MONTH1
6
MONTH2
6
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
552070
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Second World War 1939 to 1945
Place
Stoney Gate
Description
Description: Pillbox, one of a pair on an inland stop-line constructed in 1940-41 of reinforced concrete.
PLAN:
An elongated hexagon with a main and rear front and a flat roof.
EXTERIOR:
Single storey and partly lying below ground level. The elongated front has a central machine gun embrasure flanked by single rifle embrasures with a single machine gun embrasure to each chamfered side. The rear front has a protected doorway with two rifle embrasures and one to the other with a rifle and machine gun embrasure to each chamfered side.
INTERIOR:
There is a thick detached blast wall in a central position within the pillbox. Beneath each of the machine gun embrasures there is a roughly square hole, which formerly contained the mounting for a machine gun mount.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES:
A second pillbox lies c. 0.9km to the north and both examples like on a former anti-invasion stop line.
HISTORY:
From May 1940 to February 1942, inland defence hinged on the use of major anti-tank stop-lines intended to slow down an anticipated invasion from occupied France. Stop lines comprised a variety of defensive features including pillboxes, ditches and barbed wire. Pillboxes were usually built by local soldiers in various defensive locations and aimed to accommodate rifles or light machine guns and although the War Office issued twelve standard pillbox designs, in practice, many unofficial designs arose out of local considerations and preferences. The pillbox at New Herrington is one of a pair, which survives on a stop line that ringed the city of Sunderland and aimed to protect the town’s western hinterland in the event of an east coast invasion. Analysis of old mapping shows that the pillbox was located on a former enclosure boundary, now removed.
SOURCES:
I Brown et al 20th Century Defences in Britain 1996;
CS Dobinson 1996 Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Anti-Invasion Defences of WWII. CBA.
REASON FOR DESIGNATION:
It is an example of a type of pillbox which is exclusively northeastern and is rare in a national context.
It is situated on a defensive stop-line and has group value with an adjacent pillbox.
It illustrates the strategic approach to anti-invasion defences in the hinterland of an important industrial town during the Second World War.
It is a well-preserved example of its type whose form clearly illustrates its intended function.
SITEASS
The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}.
Site Type: Broad
Fortification
SITEDESC
Description: Pillbox, one of a pair on an inland stop-line constructed in 1940-41 of reinforced concrete.
PLAN:
An elongated hexagon with a main and rear front and a flat roof.
EXTERIOR:
Single storey and partly lying below ground level. The elongated front has a central machine gun embrasure flanked by single rifle embrasures with a single machine gun embrasure to each chamfered side. The rear front has a protected doorway with two rifle embrasures and one to the other with a rifle and machine gun embrasure to each chamfered side.
INTERIOR:
There is a thick detached blast wall in a central position within the pillbox. Beneath each of the machine gun embrasures there is a roughly square hole, which formerly contained the mounting for a machine gun mount.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES:
A second pillbox lies c. 0.9km to the north and both examples like on a former anti-invasion stop line.
HISTORY:
From May 1940 to February 1942, inland defence hinged on the use of major anti-tank stop-lines intended to slow down an anticipated invasion from occupied France. Stop lines comprised a variety of defensive features including pillboxes, ditches and barbed wire. Pillboxes were usually built by local soldiers in various defensive locations and aimed to accommodate rifles or light machine guns and although the War Office issued twelve standard pillbox designs, in practice, many unofficial designs arose out of local considerations and preferences. The pillbox at New Herrington is one of a pair, which survives on a stop line that ringed the city of Sunderland and aimed to protect the town’s western hinterland in the event of an east coast invasion. Analysis of old mapping shows that the pillbox was located on a former enclosure boundary, now removed.
SOURCES:
I Brown et al 20th Century Defences in Britain 1996;
CS Dobinson 1996 Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Anti-Invasion Defences of WWII. CBA.
REASON FOR DESIGNATION:
It is an example of a type of pillbox which is exclusively northeastern and is rare in a national context.
It is situated on a defensive stop-line and has group value with an adjacent pillbox.
It illustrates the strategic approach to anti-invasion defences in the hinterland of an important industrial town during the Second World War.
It is a well-preserved example of its type whose form clearly illustrates its intended function.
Site Name
Stoney Gate, Pillbox
Site Type: Specific
Pillbox
SITE_STAT
Listed Building Grade II
HER Number
1781
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 1781 >> A. Rudd, 1989, Existing Sites of Pillboxes in Tyne and Wear; I Brown et al 20th Century Defences in Britain 1996;
CS Dobinson 1996 Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Anti-Invasion Defences of WWII. CBA; Department of Culture Media and Sport, 2008, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 504124
YEAR1
2001
YEAR2
2008
English, British
ADDITINF
y
AREA_STAT
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Class
Defence
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
COMP2
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
12
DAY2
04
District
Sunderland
Easting
434870
Grid ref figure
8
HISTORY_TOPIC
World Wars
Map Sheet
NZ35SW
MATERIAL
Reinforced Concrete
MONTH1
6
MONTH2
6
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
552930
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Second World War 1939 to 1945
Place
New Herrington
Description
Pillbox, one of a pair on an inland stop-line constructed in 1940-41 of reinforced concrete.
PLAN:
An elongated hexagon/lozenge type with a main and rear front and a flat roof.
EXTERIOR:
Single storey and partly lying below ground level. The elongated front has a central machine gun embrasure flanked by single rifle embrasures with a single machine gun embrasure to each chamfered side. The rear front has a protected doorway with two rifle embrasures and one to the other with a rifle and machine gun embrasure to each chamfered side. INTERIOR:
There is a thick detached blast wall in a central position within the pillbox. Beneath each of the machine gun embrasures there is a roughly square hole, which formerly contained the mounting for a machine gun mount.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES:
A second pillbox lies c. 0.9km to the south and both examples like on a former anti-invasion stop line. HISTORY:
From May 1940 to February 1942, inland defence hinged on the use of major anti-tank stop-lines intended to slow down an anticipated invasion from occupied France. Stop lines comprised a variety of defensive features including pillboxes, ditches and barbed wire. Pillboxes were usually built by local soldiers in various defensive locations and aimed to accommodate rifles or light machine guns and although the War Office issued twelve standard pillbox designs, in practice, many unofficial designs arose out of local considerations and preferences. The pillbox at New Herrington is one of a pair, which survives on a stop line that ringed the city of Sunderland and aimed to protect the town’s western hinterland in the event of an east coast invasion. Analysis of old mapping shows that the pillbox was inserted into the side of a former quarry, which during the early C20th had been used as a miniature rifle range.
SITEASS
The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}. REASON FOR DESIGNATION:
It is an example of a type of pillbox which is exclusively northeastern and is rare in a national context.
It is situated on a defensive stop-line and has group value with an adjacent pillbox.
It illustrates the strategic approach to anti-invasion defences in the hinterland of an important industrial town during the Second World War.
It is a well-preserved example of its type whose form clearly illustrates its intended function.
Site Type: Broad
Fortification
SITEDESC
Pillbox, one of a pair on an inland stop-line constructed in 1940-41 of reinforced concrete.
PLAN:
An elongated hexagon/lozenge type with a main and rear front and a flat roof.
EXTERIOR:
Single storey and partly lying below ground level. The elongated front has a central machine gun embrasure flanked by single rifle embrasures with a single machine gun embrasure to each chamfered side. The rear front has a protected doorway with two rifle embrasures and one to the other with a rifle and machine gun embrasure to each chamfered side. INTERIOR:
There is a thick detached blast wall in a central position within the pillbox. Beneath each of the machine gun embrasures there is a roughly square hole, which formerly contained the mounting for a machine gun mount.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES:
A second pillbox lies c. 0.9km to the south and both examples like on a former anti-invasion stop line. HISTORY:
From May 1940 to February 1942, inland defence hinged on the use of major anti-tank stop-lines intended to slow down an anticipated invasion from occupied France. Stop lines comprised a variety of defensive features including pillboxes, ditches and barbed wire. Pillboxes were usually built by local soldiers in various defensive locations and aimed to accommodate rifles or light machine guns and although the War Office issued twelve standard pillbox designs, in practice, many unofficial designs arose out of local considerations and preferences. The pillbox at New Herrington is one of a pair, which survives on a stop line that ringed the city of Sunderland and aimed to protect the town’s western hinterland in the event of an east coast invasion. Analysis of old mapping shows that the pillbox was inserted into the side of a former quarry, which during the early C20th had been used as a miniature rifle range.
Site Name
New Herrington, Herrington Hill, Pillbox
Site Type: Specific
Pillbox
SITE_STAT
Listed Building Grade II
HER Number
1780
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 1780 >> A. Rudd, 1989, Existing Sites of Pillboxes in Tyne and Wear; I Brown et al 20th Century Defences in Britain 1996;
CS Dobinson 1996 Twentieth Century Fortifications in England Anti-Invasion Defences of WWII. CBA; Department of Culture Media and Sport, 2008, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 504118
YEAR1
2001
YEAR2
2008
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
12
District
Sunderland
Easting
434400
Grid ref figure
6
HISTORY_TOPIC
World Wars
Map Sheet
NZ35SW
MONTH1
6
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
553400
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Second World War 1939 to 1945
Place
West Herrington
Description
Historic Ordnance Survey Map evidence show a hexagonal pillbox of Second World War origin at this location.
SITEASS
The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}.
Site Type: Broad
Fortification
SITEDESC
Hexagonal pillbox.
Site Name
West Herrington, Pillbox
Site Type: Specific
Pillbox
HER Number
1779
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 1779 >> A. Rudd, 1989, Existing Sites of Pillboxes in Tyne and Wear
YEAR1
2001
English, British
Class
Defence
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
12
District
Gateshead
Easting
425100
Grid ref figure
6
HISTORY_TOPIC
World Wars
Map Sheet
NZ25NE
MONTH1
6
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
559900
General Period
20TH CENTURY
Specific Period
Second World War 1939 to 1945
Place
Teams
Description
Historic Ordnance Survey Map evidence show a rectangular pillbox of Second World War origin at this location.
SITEASS
The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}.
Site Type: Broad
Fortification
SITEDESC
Rectangular pillbox next to railway.
Site Name
Team Valley, Pillbox
Site Type: Specific
Pillbox
HER Number
1778
Form of Evidence
Structure
Sources
<< HER 1778 >> A. Rudd, 1989, Existing Sites of Pillboxes in Tyne and Wear
YEAR1
2001
English, British
AREA_STAT
Conservation Area
Class
Industrial
COMP1
Jennifer Morrison
DAY1
11
District
Newcastle
Easting
426100
Grid ref figure
8
Map Sheet
NZ26NE
MONTH1
6
Grid Reference
NZ
Northing
566320
General Period
POST MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Hanoverian 1714 to 1837
Place
Heaton
Description
Haderwicks Mill Pit is shown on an 18th century Plan of Heaton Estate. Its precise location is unknown.
Site Type: Broad
Coal Mining Site
SITEDESC
"Haderwicks Mill Pit" shown on 18th century "Plan of Heaton Estate". Grid ref is approximate.
Site Name
Haderwicks Mill Pit, Heaton Park
Site Type: Specific
Coal Workings
HER Number
1776
Form of Evidence
Documentary Evidence
Sources
<< HER 1776 >> Plan - ref. C188 of Heaton Estate, Northumberland Records Office- ZRI 50/9