Building record 7123/1/1 - WW2 pillbox, L&H Polymers

Square Second World War pillbox, with embrasures, built on the roof of an existing building. The site was used for the production of rubber pads for tank tracks during WW2. On the roof of an industrial building on the West side of Crow Lane, opposite the entrance to Billing Aquadrome.

{1} Type 26 square pillbox built on the roof of an existing building on the L and H Polymers site at Crow Lane. The site was used for the production of rubber pads for the tank tracks during the war. Brick and concrete. Good condition. Photograph accompanies report.

{2} L and H Polymers, Great Billing. "The structure on the roof, whilst certainly resembling a pillbox might be a wartime fire-spotter's post. In view of the nature of the wartime production carried out here (rubber) it would have been essential to watch for the fall of incendiary bombs. The structure could have served for security/defensive purposes too, but I would thing its primary role was to accommodate a roof-spotter."

{3} Polymer/rubber factory has first floor level guardpost. M Osborne presumes factory was in munitions business WW2. Similar guardposts at Elstow (Beds) ordnance depot and at ground level elsewhere. Was there a naval connection? These posts often tend to be associated with Admiralty premises.The guardhouse is of brick.

<1> Armishaw A., 1999, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49044.

<2> Lowry B., 1999, Correspondence, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN48510.

<3> OSBORNE M., 1999, SMR Report Form, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN49010.

<4> Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources (Database). SNN112922.

<5> Historic England, Undated, Defence of Britain, DEB01 (Archive). SNN112947.

Record last edited

Nov 7 2022 1:40PM