Pillboxes - "miniature modern castles"
Pillboxes are small structures which designed entirely for defensive purposes. Miniature castles is one way to think of them. They are normally intended for a garrison of from one up to ten men who would have been armed with rifles, light or heavy machine guns or small anti tank weapons depending on location. Some were equipped with a mounting to use one or more machine guns in an anti aircraft role.
One of a series of 3 pillboxes found on Dunster Beach, Somerset.
These structures had a devastating effect on the static trench war of the western front in the 1914 - 1918 war. However, with the fast moving blitzkrieg style of war envisaged later, it was envisaged that they would be part of more comprehensive defensive lines, often based on rivers and rail lines.
They were built in a hurry as part of the desperate preparations for the invasion of Britain which was expected in 1940. They were built by local construction companies to many different designs which were often further modified to suit a particular site.
The example above on a hill can be seen along the A65 between Skipton and Kendle built to cover a road bridge during the 1939-1945 war.
It pays to look around if you come across one, because there are often more in the same area. They were sited to cover road junctions, river crossings and other important places. It was also usual to site them to give each other covering fire when they were in a group. A great many were disguised in some way or built into other buildings like barns and bridges or even houses.
Pillbox on the South Devon coast near Bramscombe