Building record 7435/0/1 - WWII Type 22 Pillbox, Pipewell

Type 22 World War II hexagonal brick-built pillbox with concrete roof and lintels. Entrance in north east face. There is a circular crop mark to the north east and a linear feature running down the hill to the road probable evidence of a searchlight battery position.

{1} Lies south of Pipewell village. Brick built type 22 hexagonal pillbox with concrete roof. Built with sub standard mortar as with those at Cobley Lodge Fm on A43, East Carlton and Gretton, with result that “outer layer of bricks are falling away. Together they form a semi-circle around the west side of Corby” … with pattern perhaps continued over county boundary with Pill Boxes at SP913002 and SP897052. Sites are all 5km apart – AA speculates as to their function, perhaps defended S/Ls … all on top of hills. In follow-up letter of 15th November Armishaw refers to Dobinson’s sample list of S/L sites and in particular his references to ‘Killer Belts’ and ‘Gun Defended Areas’ with single lights at 6000 yard (5500m) spacings. This, AA notes, “….closely matches the pattern of the single pillboxes on hilltop sites.” AA has plotted the sites in and bordering Northants and writes that “They follow the 6000yd pattern quite accurately, and seem to form part of a much larger system.”

{2} Type 22 hexagonal pillbox. Brick with concrete roof and lintels. Entrance to NE. Fair condition. Identifiable on NCC Aps. Documentary material at PRO: WO 166/2256 and WO 166/7389 War Diary 32 AA Brigade: identifies site as WT.097 and 268, manned by 362 Battery, 41 Searchlight Regiment based at the Militia Camp, Brigstock, Northants MGR 74/294049. Three colour photos.

NOTE: SMR records presence of circular cropmark (SMR Mon 1388/0/1) a short distance North-East of the pillbox. Could this be ploughed S/L site associated with the pillbox identified by AA?

{3} Type 22 hexagonal brick-built pillbox with concrete roof and lintels. Entrance in NE face. There is a circular crop mark to the NE and a linear feature running down the hill to the road [probable evidence of a searchlight battery position]. Documentary sources show this site to have been designated WT .097 and 268, and it was manned by 362 Battery, 141 Searchlight Regiment based at the militia camp, Brigstock. In a hedge that runs E - W on top of a ridge S of Pipewell village.

<1> Armishaw A., 2000, Correspondence, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN101478.

<2> Armishaw A., 2002, Defence of Britain Report Forms, (unchecked) (Notes). SNN101477.

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

<4> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

Record last edited

May 8 2024 9:45AM