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To the
southwest of the footbridge in Racecourse
Lane, Paulsgrove there is or rather was a WWII Pillbox. The bridge
crosses the main Southcoast Railway Line, and the Pillbox would have
provided a guard point for this, as it was expected that any invading
force would try to use the Railway network for movement of troops and
material.
The Pillbox is
a Type 26 and was of unusual design. It was of the Prefabricated type,
that is to say it was actually erected as a kit of parts in one day. The
square walls - including the loopholes and the door - were made of
pre-cast pillars with slots in, into which were slotted paving slabs,
both inside and out. On the second day the concrete and scrap steel were
delivered to site and the wet concrete poured into the gap and then on
the third day the roof was put on top and the gun mountings fixed to the
4 loopholes. There were no more than 260 built anywhere in the UK.
Its official
defence grouping was: Anti-invasion defences of Portsmouth (Western
Command) anti-tank island. [GHQ and Comd: Cassini Q01. 5 Corps Operation
Instruction No.41 of 5.9.40 - PRO WO 166/249].
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