In 1940 Bishopstone Station had a pillbox built on its roof, cleverly camouflaged into the Art Deco architecture. In December 2020 I was granted access; read my blog for more detail! pillbox.org.uk/blog/251798/ #swwSussex @MrTimDunn 1/6
Opened in 1938, the station building stands above a railway cutting. It's not immediately obvious that the pillbox actually has four embrasures. I build a 3D model a few years ago to help interpret the layout and siting. 2/6
The pillbox is only accessible via the roof, so scaffolding is required. Amazing to finally get close after longfully gazing up from ground level for years! 3/6
Entry from the roof is through a small door at the eastern end. I was surprised to find that the 'two' pillboxes are actually a single structure connected by a tunnel! 4/6
Archive documents show that the pillbox was designed for the Vickers gun; one was mounted here in 1940. I had a feeling there were no gun platforms in the pillbox, so I had brought some buckets and a plank to improvise one! 5/6
How was I able to get access? We were filming for 'Architecture the Railways Built' with @MrTimDunn - thanks to all for a fantastic day! Imagine visiting a bucket-list pillbox and having to keep quiet for 11 months until the programme was broadcast... 6/6
For anyone intrigued by the mention of Pevensey Castle's camouflaged pillboxes in tonight's episode, here's a thread about them:
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