Monument record 8540/1/20 - WWII pillbox, Forceleap Copse

The remains of a World War Two pillbox probably associated with the wartime defences of the former Royal Air Force station of Hinton-in-the Hedges Airfield, possibly built between 1940-1941. It is now located in woodland to the west of the airfield (Forcelap Copse), just south of a concrete track leading through the wood. It is thought to have been moved from its original location, which has not been identified. The pillbox takes the form of a concrete cylinder similar to a Norcon pillbox, but with smaller dimensions. Blocked embrasures were visible at the top. When it was recorded in 1997 it had been modified with an extra layer of bricks added- this appears to have been for use as an incenerator.

{1} Circular concrete ‘water pipe’ type pillbox with loopholes cast around the upper edge. Similar to ‘Norcon’ type but smaller. Local information suggested subsequent use as incinerator. Original location undetermined. Adjoins concrete track. Air Ministry Record Site Plan 1811/45 – site 4. Fair condition.

{3} The Defence of Britain Database notes an ex situ pillbox at "RAF Hinton-in-the-Hedges", Hinton-in-the-Hedges (sic), Northamptonshire, SP 5367 3719. According to the record it is situated "just south of a turning in a concrete track that runs through a wood on the north side of site 4". Its original location has not been identified. The pillbox takes the form of a concrete "water pipe" shape similar to a Norcon pillbox, but with smaller dimensions. Blocked embrasures were noted at the top. When it was recorded in 1997, local information suggested that it had been modified for use as an incinerator, with an extra layer of bricks.

{5} The description of the most recent location of the pillbox at SP 5367 3719 (NAT) suggests that it is in Forcelap Copse, a narrow strip of woodland between the larger Coleready plantation and Forcelap Farm. It is however in Farthinghoe civil parish, not Hinton-in-the-Hedges.

<1> Armishaw, A., 2001, Defence Of Britain Project Site Report Form, (checked) (Recording Form (Not SMR)). SNN101415.

<2> Armishaw, A., 2001, Pillbox at Hinton in the Hedges Airfield, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN109637.

<3> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<4> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain (Archive). SNN112947.

<5> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), 1:10000, 1982 (Map). SNN112944.

Record last edited

Jun 28 2024 3:33PM