Identifying First World War Pillboxes in the UK
First World War Pillbox. Copyright: C. Kolonko
The threat of invasion during the First World War is often overlooked but was taken very seriously by the Military at the time who believed enemy landing parties, and full-scale invasion, were an ever present threat.
Public fear and panic throughout the war led to a number of ‘invasion scares’; the first of which took place on the day war was declared. Subsequent invasion scares, and updated military intelligence, led to the development of elaborate defensive stop-lines consisting of Trenches, Barbed Wire, Field Batteries, and Pillboxes.
These defences focussed around vulnerable stretches of coast, inland vulnerable points, as well as important coastal artillery batteries and dockyards.
Areas such as Swale in Kent, Weybourne in Norfolk, the East Yorkshire Coast, and the Firth of Forth in Scotland were extensively fortified in an attempt to throw back an invasion force.
Troops of the 1st Battalion, County of London Volunteers (United Arts Volunteer Rifles) constructing trenches (part of London’s outer defences) at Woldingham, 1916. © IWM (Q 23549)
Following the war many of the defences were removed and demolished as they were no longer required. To further complicate things, many of the sites used during the First World War were re-used during the Second World War and in some cases existing defences were adapted during the 1940s.
Although the Trenches, fieldworks, and Barbed Wire have now long since disappeared; the more durable defences, such as the Pillbox, can still be found.
A Pillbox is a simple structure made of concrete used to protect and shelter soldiers and machine gun crews from incoming bullets, shrapnel, and shell splinters; while allowing them to return fire.
Pillboxes are often seen as a reminder of the Second World War and the invasion threat of the early 1940s; leading to the misinterpretation of many First World War Pillboxes.
Round Type Pillbox, Beeston Regis. Copyright: C. Bird
This Case Study will highlight the three most common ‘types’ of Pillbox of the World War One that can be found in the UK. You can view recorded Pillboxes on our ‘Map of Sites’.
Please be aware that many of the Pillboxes featured in this article are situated on private property. Always gain landowner consent to access private property, or land, before conducting a site visit.
Download a PDF copy of the Home Front Legacy Identifying First World War Pillboxes Help Sheet
Pillbox types
There are a three common pillbox ‘types’ dating from the First World War that can be found in the UK. Some of these may look very similar to standard Second World War designs, however if you know what to look for it is possible to tell the difference.
Round Type
This type is particularly common in Norfolk and Suffolk where a number survive to this day. The Round Type is believed to have contributed to the origin of the term ‘Pillbox’ as they resemble a Pillbox Hat, pill container, or Post Office ‘Pillar box’ (The etymology of the term ‘Pillbox’ is open to some debate, however that is a different story!).
Aylmerton Round Type Pillbox. Copyright: C. Bird
This Pillbox has a diameter of 4.5m, and was generally constructed from pre-cast concrete blocks. Examples of the Round Type Pillbox in Suffolk were also constructed from cast concrete.
The roof is approximately 15cm thick and made of cast concrete, reinforced with Rolled Steel Joists (RSJs).
The low entrance was protected by steel doors; however, these are often missing from surviving examples. Some examples of this type feature a high entrance; including one surviving example at Weybourne.
Interior of Round Type Pillbox showing steel doors and loophole cover fittings, Thorpe Market. Copyright: R. Cooper
The loopholes, holes in the walls used to fire a weapon through, are not situated in a standard layout and variations are frequently seen; loopholes are often located at different intervals and heights in the wall, presumably taking into account local defence needs and required fields of fire. However, some examples do feature loopholes at the same height. The loopholes originally had steel covers, enabling them to be closed when under fire; again, these shutters are often missing but their fittings can still be seen around the loopholes (See above image).
Pillbox Plan
Distinctive Features Summary
-Has a diameter of 4.5m
-Constructed from pre-cast concrete blocks
-Often features a low entrance originally protected by two steel doors; steel doors may survive. Some examples feature a higher entrance
-Loopholes sometimes set at different heights and orientations
Surviving Example
Aylmerton, Norfolk
Hexagonal Type
Surviving examples of the Hexagonal Type can be found in Norfolk in Great Yarmouth and St. Olaves. Externally this Pillbox is similar to the Second World War (DFW3) Type 22 Pillbox ; however, there are a number of differences between the two.
Hexagonal Type Pillbox, Great Yarmouth. Copyright: R. Cooper
Constructed from cast concrete with walls 2.1m in length and 15cm thick; this Pillbox is smaller than the often encountered Type 22. Loopholes are present in five of the six walls, with one wall containing the characteristic low entrance and protective steel doors. As with other First World War Pillbox designs, the loopholes are sometimes set at different heights to enable the use of different weapons such as the Lee Enfield SMLE and BSA Lewis Gun.
Loopholes set at different heights. Hexagonal Type Pillbox, Great Yarmouth. Copyright: R. Cooper
Distinctive Features Summary
There are a number of features of that set this type apart from its Second World War doppelganger including:
-A low entrance protected by two steel doors
-Walls 2.1m in length
-No internal anti-ricochet wall; the Second World War Type-22 features a ‘Y’ shaped anti-ricochet wall within
-Loopholes in five of the six walls; sometimes set at different heights
Pillbox Plan
Surviving Example
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
Square Type
These simple square Pillboxes are known to survive in Kent and East Yorkshire.
Auburn Farm Pillbox Copyright: C. Kolonko
This design is very simple, essentially a square concrete box with walls 2.1m in length. The walls are very thin at 15cm and it is unlikely they would not withstand the impact of incoming bullets, grenade or shrapnel/shell splinters. Although very thin the poured concrete walls were reinforced with a metal mesh.
The number of loopholes is not standardised and Pillboxes of this type can feature one, two, or three loopholes.
The example pictured above was re-used during the Second World War; as a result the single forward facing loophole was re-cut and two additional loopholes were added to the corners. The extent of the original loophole is discernible below the central re-cut loophole.
The Square Pillbox design was used prominently in the defence of the East Yorkshire Coast and many were recently identified by the Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment project (RCZA). To find out more in the Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Phase 3
Distinctive Features Summary
-Walls 2.1m in length
-Very thin walls, approximately 15cm thick
-Concrete reinforced with a distinctive metal mesh
Pillbox Plan
Surviving Example
Auburn Farm, Fraisthorpe
Recorded Pillboxes
You can view recorded Pillboxes on our ‘Map of Sites’. Use the site type ‘Pillbox’. If the red pins are not visible press the ‘Search’ button.
Acknowledgements
The Home Front Legacy team would like to thank Christopher Bird and Rich Cooper for providing the images used in this Case Study.
Further Reading
‘The Home Front in Britain 1914-18- An Archaeological Handbook’
The CBA Practical Handbook ‘The Home Front in Britain 1914-18- An Archaeological Handbook’ features a wealth of information about both coastal and inland defences during the First World War.
Available from Oxbow Books
Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Phase 3
Historic England Anti-invasion and Coastal Defences
WW1 Anti-invasion Defences and Home Defence: Suffolk
Bird, C. (1999). Silent Sentinels. Dereham: Larks Press
Osborne, M. (2008). Pillboxes of Britain and Ireland. Stroud: Tempus
