WWII Pill Box at West Drayton

[coxy]

HI,

Whilst passing West Drayton last week, I noticed that the coal yard to the west of the station had been completely cleared - not 100% surprising with the downturn in coal as a fuel.

However on my way back the same day, I noticed what I can only describe as a WWII Pill Box situated in the far west hand corner of the yard, adjacent to the railway.

I've had a look at the area on Google Maps, but can't see anything obvious.

Was I imagining this, or can somebody confirm that it exists and provide info on it's history.

 

[trickyvegas]

Quite possible - There's one on the canal aqueduct over Fray's River.

 

[JBuchananGB]

Found this on http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk

Type of site PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24)
Location West Drayton railway sidings.
Area West Drayton, London, Greater, England
Grid reference TQ 0525 8021 (Scale: 1:25000 )
Period WW2
Condition Fair
Materials Concrete
Recorder Dowse, Geoffery
Defence grouping London Stop Line: Outer - Line A (outer suburbs) of London defence rings.
Attached Sheets (2) - sketch plan and map
Photographs (3) - external views
DOB site reference: S0000733
Event Construction, In the period 1940 1941
Field Visit, On 1996/10/12

 

[matt_world2004]

The canal one has been turned into a homeless spot.

 

[Firesprite]

HI,

Whilst passing West Drayton last week, I noticed that the coal yard to the west of the station had been completely cleared - not 100% surprising with the downturn in coal as a fuel.

However on my way back the same day, I noticed what I can only describe as a WWII Pill Box situated in the far west hand corner of the yard, adjacent to the railway.

I've had a look at the area on Google Maps, but can't see anything obvious.

Was I imagining this, or can somebody confirm that it exists and provide info on it's history.

The Grand Union canal along with the River Thames and the Kennet and Avon canal formed part of a defence line from the Thames Estuary to the River Seven. In the event that the Wehrmacht gain a foothold on the south coast in 1940. Any waterway that faced east to west had Pillboxes install every half mile on the north bank where possible. You can clearly see this on the Middle levels waterways in the Fens.

 

[Firesprite]

The canal one has been turned into a homeless spot.

The doorway and loopholes had been blocked up. Has the brickwork been knock out?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I'm sure there's quite a few of these still around; there's one in a prominent position at the south end of Putney Bridge station on the District Line for a start.

 

[3141]

I don't know the precise numbers, but I think there are still many around. You come across them in all kinds of places. Some are overgrown and almost invisible, which suggests there are others that have disappeared entirely behind vegetation. Their presence probably doesn't register on most people, particularly since most people today weren't around during or in the years immediately after WW2.

 

[matt_world2004]

The doorway and loopholes had been blocked up. Has the brickwork been knock out?

It wasnt blocked up when I went it smelled off **** and there were cans and materesses everywhere.

 

[randyrippley]

"Defence grouping London Stop Line: Outer - Line A (outer suburbs) of London defence rings"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_London_Defence_Ring