Four Pillboxes

Four Pillboxes, Hoo St Werburgh

A group of four pillboxes constructed in 1940 as part of the Hoo Stop Line, an anti-invasion defence line stretching approximately eight miles between the River Thames near Cliffe and the River Medway to the south-east of Hoo St Werburgh. The pillboxes are built of concrete with brick shuttering.

The group comprises two type 24 polygonal infantry pillboxes positioned to the north and south, flanked by two type 28 rectangular gun emplacements in the centre. The pillboxes are deliberately sited behind a hedge line, positioned to cover an anti-tank ditch (now infilled) and field approaches to the north and east. They occupy a slight rise just below the Hoo St Werburgh ridge, providing enhanced fields of fire across the relatively low-lying landscape.

The northern pillbox (Pillbox 1) is a hexagonal infantry pillbox of type 24, facing east-north-east. It is notably without brickwork above the embrasures, a feature unique to this particular section of the GHQ Line, presumably reflecting individual contractor practice.

The two central gun emplacements (Pillboxes 2 and 3) are type 28 anti-tank pillboxes of rectangular form with concrete construction and brick shuttering. The roof is chamfered at the edge. Type 28s are rarer than type 24s and considerably larger, requiring a substantial rear entrance to wheel in a two or six-pounder quick-firing gun, with a large embrasure for the gun and smaller infantry embrasures in support. Pillbox 3 contained a plaque inscribed '1940-Hell's Corner-BY BEF' when inspected in 1977, though its current survival is unknown.

The southern pillbox (Pillbox 4) is of identical type and construction to Pillbox 1, also lacking brickwork above the embrasures, and faces north-east.

The entrances to all four pillboxes are currently blocked and interiors have not been inspected. The type 24 pillboxes contain a central Y-shaped ricochet wall.

The four pillboxes form part of the principal GHQ (General Headquarters) Line, which ran from the North Somerset coast to the east of London and then parallel with the east coast to Yorkshire. Construction began in June 1940 following the defeat of British forces in Europe and the return of troops from Dunkirk. The Hoo Stop Line took the form of an artificial anti-tank ditch dug to join the Medway and Thames rivers, supported by pillboxes, anti-tank rails and road blocks. War Office plans indicate the line originally comprised sixty infantry and eighteen anti-tank pillboxes enclosing the higher ground containing the Lodge Hill and Chattenden Ordnance Depots (now the Royal School of Military Engineering's Lodge Hill Camp and Chattenden Barracks), with each component encircled in barbed wire for additional protection. Other earthworks, such as slit trenches, likely supported the line but are now lost.

The Hoo peninsula was heavily militarised during the Second World War. Hoo itself was designated a defended village in 1941 with its own garrison. A further hundred troops from the 347th Searchlight Battery, Royal Artillery were stationed at Kingshill Camp to the west of Bell Lane. High Halstow village to the north and the Royal Navy Ammunition Dump at Lodge Hill were also garrisoned. Subtle changes in gradient were exploited to site the defensive components to best advantage given the low-lying topography and coastal access.

The group holds particular significance as a demonstration of the perceived weakness at this point in the stop-line, with two gun emplacements in close proximity flanked by and supported by infantry pillboxes, illustrating the designs of the defensive planners. The group also demonstrates the interrelationship and function of a section of the principal GHQ stop-line, providing understanding of the country's defence strategy in 1940 and the interpretation of this defensive landscape.