Margaretness Pillbox

A World War II pillbox along the River Thames.

Walking along the Thames Path there is always something new to see or discover.

It was while walking east, from Crossness, that I first saw this World War II-era pillbox. It is typical of the time and was used as an observation post, with a wide 'window' which offered a wide field of vision.

There were many versions of pillbox design, with different areas and counties having their own specific design. This one was adapted, at some point, to be fitted with an anti-aircraft gun. This, obviously, has been removed.

This pillbox has a wide field of vision.

Brief History.

Pillboxes were small, hardened concrete bunkers with loopholes for firing weapons, designed as fixed firing positions. They were part of a network of defensive structures, built in the late 1930s and early 1940s, to defend against a potential enemy invasion and to protect key sites. 

They were often categorised by shape (hexagonal, rectangular, circular, octagonal) and armament (rifle loops, machine gun emplacements like Vickers or Bren, anti-tank guns) with standard types like the Hexagonal Type 22/24 for light defence and larger ones for heavy guns.

Looking at the pillbox from the Thames Path.

Many were integrated into the landscape and were set at distances of every half-mile or so. They were placed to cover key crossings and to provide interlocking fields of fire.

This one is an irregular, adapted hexagonal concrete structure, a variant of the standard Type 23 Pillbox, and was built close to the nearby Royal Arsenal. It also has a cantilevered opening, which allows for a wide field of vision.

The gun emplacement mounting.

A notable feature is the surviving central column mounting for an anti-aircraft machine gun and a slot designed to provide an extensive field of fire over the Thames.

This pillbox is a preserved historical relic and is included on the Royal Greenwich Local Heritage List.