I never knew there were as many as 18,000 pillboxes in the UK - all built during the second world war as makesfhift fortesses from which to defend our island from invasion. Nor did I know that some actually look pretty; probably beacuse I didn't recognise them as such, being disguised as disused cottages smothered in brambles. Visit the village of Creech St Michael on the Somerset Canal to view this one.
What's interesting is that they are all mapped and recorded with an online search facility. Click here.
I checked out the one I most recently came across which is on one of our cycling tours. Its the usual ugly concrete affair but as estate agents would certainly say, it has a prime waterside position next to the Thames and adjacent to the only ford crossing this great river. It's located in a memorable parish that goes by the name of Chimney. This must have been thought to be a strategic area all those years ago as there are 4 more pillboxes there too It also appears to be part of a defense line known as the GHQ Stop Line which ran from south of Malmesbury to west of Reading.
Pillboxes turned out to be surplus to requirements. It wouldn't take much imagination though to see a current use for them. The picture above shows a pillbox beside the Thames near Lechlade.
