First World War pillbox, Sea Lane, Saltfleet

Pillbox, built 1917.

MATERIALS: concrete, reinforced with expanded metal lath sheeting (Expamet) and steel rails, poured in situ with timber shuttering internally, sandbag shuttering externally.

PLAN: single cell trapezoid.

EXTERIOR: set into the eastern slope of the sea bank at Sea Lane, Saltfleet. NE (seaward) elevation is blind and convex. NW and SE elevations each have a single, low set, wide-splayed machine gun embrasure. The base of a Second World War period steel-framed bombing range quadrant post comprising smooth surfaced concrete foundation pillars, with holdfast bolts in their upper surfaces, are cast against both the NW and SE walls. SW rear wall is totally obscured by the build-up of the sea bank. The roof slab has a central round vent that has been blocked by a modern circular steel cap with ‘E + A’ stencilled into it. (not of special interest). The exterior of the structure has a rusticated appearance left by the sandbag shuttering and the front edge of the roof irregular lumps of concrete to disrupt the outline of the structure.

INTERIOR: access is blocked and filled with sand. The walls have smooth whitewashed concrete surfaces, with horizontal plank shuttering witness marks.