Monument record MCC4798 - WWII Pillbox, Chappel Bridge, Chappel

Summary

WWII Pillbox.

Location

Grid reference TL 8952 2847 (point)
Map sheet TL82NE
Civil Parish CHAPPEL, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

In trees alongside the south-west corner of Chappel Bridge is an FW3/22 pillbox. It is hexagonal, has 10in loopholes with steel side supports and is constructed of 15in thick concrete. The entrance is in the south-west face and anti-ricochet shuttering has been used to form the wall facing the opening.<1> In common with other FW3/22's in the Colchester area, this variation has a 'slit-type' loophole in the same face as the entrance.

Two photos of site.<2>

SITE ASSESSMENT:
The quantity, diversity and survival of the WWII defences in the Chappel Viaduct area form a rare, interdependent, compound site. These include the four major types of pillbox on the Eastern Command Line (SMR 20000/MCC4798, 20001/MCC4799, 20004/MCC4800 and 20008/MCC4801), 28 concrete anti-tank cubes (SMR 20002/MCC5130 and 20005/MCC5132), three concrete anti-tank cylinders (SMR 20002/MCC5130) and two spigot mortar pedestals (SMR 10997/MCC5127 and 10998/MCC5128).

OCTOBER 2002: Site designated Scheduled Monument NHLE No. 1020687. This scheduled site is in seven parts. See also SMR's 10996 (MCC4797), 10997 (MCC5127), 10998 (MCC5128), 20001 (MCC4799), 20002 (MCC5130), 20004 (MCC4800), 20005 (MCC5132) and 20008 (MCC4801).

See also <3> & <4>.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <1> DESC TEXT: Wills, H. 1985. Pillboxes. p28.
  • <2> Photograph: Nash, Fred. 1997. Pillbox - two frames.
  • <3> Photograph: Colchester Historic Buildings Forum. 2011. Digital photograph of 10-14 Vineyard Street, Colchester. Digital. Volume 1.
  • <4> Unpublished document: Nash, Fred. 2007. SURVEY OF WORLD WAR TWO DEFENCES IN THE BOROUGH OF COLCHESTER. VOLUME 2. Volume 2.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jun 16 2020 3:44PM

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