Contemporary records state, "O.S. No. 1265 - 2 pillboxes and apron wire 'Magazine Fruit Farm, Park Road. Map ref. 422429" (Mil. Ed.) <1>

O.S. No. 1265 was a large field, bounded by hedges and trees, which stretched at its westernmost point from TL 9764 2456 to TL 9805 2458. Aerial photographs taken in May 1946 and May 1948 show one of the two pillboxes standing, half beneath trees, almost at the NE corner. From here, its field of fire would have covered the ground west and southwards. A belt of trees immediately across its northern face would have limited the fire in this direction.<2><3>

In the past 60 years this area has changed considerably but the pillbox still remains. Standing now on a playing field S of Colchester County High School for Girls, it is an hexagonal Type FW3/22 12' 6" across, 15" thick walls and 12" high x 10" wide loopholes. Beneath each loophole, the remains of wooden battens can be seen. Originally these would have supported a shelf which acted as an elbow rest when firing.

Unfortunately, the original entrance, on the N face, has been widened to 5 feet in width. This has probably been done to accommodate a field grass mower; the central pillar has also been truncated to allow more space.

Four photos of site.<4>

SITE ASSESSMENT:
Not a great many pillboxes survive on the original Colchester defence lines and it is therefore particularly unfortunate that this example has been devalued by the "modifications" to the entrance and central pillar. Nevertheless, it has survived; one of the few remaining links in the defence chain.

See also <5> & <6>.