Chris,

I, for one, love it when Roger mis-posts. And this is a cracker.



Phil



Phil Carlisle

Knowledge Organization Specialist

Listing Group, Historic England

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-----Original Message-----

From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris Webster

Sent: 17 October 2017 20:20

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: Crewkerne PB -- Ooops



Please ignore Roger's email to me. I'm not sure how he manages it but he's the clear leader in accidental posts to the forum!



Chris Webster

Somerset Historic Environment Record

Somerset Heritage Centre

Brunel Way

Taunton

TA2 6SF



01823 347434

Online HER: www.somersetheritage.org.uk



The Somerset HER is managed for Somerset County Council by the South West Heritage Trust.



South West Heritage Trust is a charity and a company limited by guarantee registered in England. Registered office: Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6SF Company number: 09053532    Charity Number: 1158791    VAT

Registration Number: 197221592



________________________________________

From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Thomas, Roger J C <[log in to unmask]>

Sent: 17 October 2017 18:17

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: Re: Crewkerne PB



Dear Chris,



Returning to the Crewkerne pillbox, the current grid reference given on the HER is a six-figure one, should you with to refine it, the ten-figure is ST 45019 10204. Incidentally, do you know whether there are any other features showing up on the 1946 AP coverage of the area? The lengthy defile is one of the best ambush points I’ve ever seen, which more than ever suggests that the pillbox had to have been camouflaged as something, and that there must have been some forms of defences firing from the flank, to stop anyone escaping up the sides of the cutting, presumably with a fougasse of some description cutting off the line of retreat. I sent the information below plus some drawings and photos to Jill, hopefully, we may be able to persuade her of its architectural and tactical significance.



Regards,



Roger



Historically this pillbox has no particular greater interest than any other in the context of the preparations of anti-invasion defences in 1940; however, architecturally this pillbox is certainly of considerable interest and demonstrates a highly unusual approach to its design and is a cut above the rest for a number of reasons – 1) the brick plinth is a remarkable bit of what would be under normal military construction, an un-necessary bit of decoration and elaboration; 2) the fact that the moulded plinth is a remarkable elaboration, it is likely to be indicative of a camouflage scheme that is no longer apparent, 3) the standard of construction is of a high standard, the use of moulded corner bricks and the type of bricks used is most unusual (the most common type used for the construction of shuttering on the outside of pillboxes was the LBC Phorpres utility brick, which crumbles badly once its outer surface is damaged); 4) it has never had a roof, it probably doubled as a light anti-aircraft machine-gun (AALMG) post, 5) the so-called central drain is probably a socket for a post or pintle for mounting the AALMG; 6) the step below the interior of each embrasure indicates that the structure was intended to be armed with tripod or bipod mounted Bren light machine-guns, 7) the height of the pillbox and the internal upwards splay of the embrasures to allow for firing the guns in depression, is un-common in an inland situation (normally only seen in elevated pillboxes over-looking cliffs and beaches; 8) it retains its armour plate embrasures splays (unusual survival, as these have normally been long removed by theft); and finally, 9) the integration of a walled trench whether for access, or as a fire trench is very unusual.



Without further photographs, it is hard to tell whether the concrete lined entrance trench is just that, or whether there was more of it that acted as a defensive trench, (see attached drawings). Pillboxes were rarely built in isolation and were normally associated with trenches and weapons pits. I suspect that the low trench walls were used as a base for additional sandbags, forming a parapet and a reredos. As the trench depth of 0.75m would only provide protection up to thigh-height, in a sense making it a crawl trench. Crawl trenches were only dug in extremis, by troops preparing to be attacked or possibly already under enemy fire, they were not dug at home except for training, and they were certainly not built like these would have been when ample time was available, as indicated by the overall quality of the construction of the pillbox, they are a very unusual feature. The elevated position of the trench would have permitted addition fire to be brought down on the road in the defile coming up the hill, an ideal ambush point.



Given its location adjacent to the A30 (a major axial route for British troops), there would undoubtedly have been a roadblock of some description. The height of the pillbox allows it to command the road and its position just below the skyline on the forward slope of the hill, places it in the ideal position to cover the defile from the crossing of the River Parrot, to the north-east. The need for this pillbox to have been both elevated and camouflaged was necessary to ensure that a German column advanced forward into the defile; having entered, there would have been little opportunity for it to escape to the flanks, once enfilading fire was opened up by the occupants of the pillbox, and flanking fire came from troops in the hedge rows above, making the defile a killing zone. It is likely that there were also flame fougasses set in the defile as well, which would have been initiated from the pillbox. The height of the pillbox above the road surface, necessitated the upward slope of the interior embrasure splay. Likewise, the height of the pillbox walls was necessary for the occupants to be protected from direct rifle fire when firing through the embrasures. Nevertheless the tall walls pose a problem from the point of view of the pillbox also being used for anti-aircraft fire, as it would have meant that the soldiers would have been unable to scan the sky for approaching enemy aircraft, and would only have seen them at last minute, not giving sufficient time to engage them. However, some LAAMG gun post had small timber, block-work, or concrete platforms to stand on, to over-come this problem, and a timber platform is probably what may have been used in this case. Without seeing a photo of the so-called drain, I cannot be absolutely sure of it being for an AALMG, but it would seem the most likely explanation given the open roof. An open roof in a pillbox is highly undesirable, unless it has a function, as it means once an enemy has gained a close approach, it would be easy to throw a grenade into it. The open roof was not left by accident, it is part of the design. Normally, pillboxes with a duel anti-invasion and LAA role are found near airfields and radar sites, and the pillbox is fully enclosed and the LAA weapons pit is either attached to the rear as an annexe, or is situated within the centre of the roofed structure e.g. RAF Windrush; however, here for some strange reason, they have been combined. NB the pillbox would not have been used in an anti-aircraft role, once it was operating in a ground-role, the two roles were exclusive.



So all in all, in spite of its isolated position, on this occasion because the very unusual architectural interest, it can be considered as being an extremely rare design (I have not seen anything like it in forty years of study), unlike the very many Type 22 and 24s that exist; like Chris Webster, I would favour this little structure gaining listed status. Although not specifically a listing issue, its setting below the sky line and the defile remain the same and unaltered since the Second World War.







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