Tilburstow Hill

 

Rabies Heath Road

Stone Pit.  This former pit in the Hythe Beds was worked for chert for use in road metalling at the beginning of the century.  It is now a nature reserve.

Tilburstow Hill

pillbox stands at Anglefield corner where Tilburstow Hill meets the A22. Following the defeat of the British army on the continent in 1940 hasty preparations were made for the expected invasion of southern England. Remembering the effectiveness of the German concrete machine gun pillboxes in 1917, General Sir Edmund Ironside ordered the construction of a complex series of lines of pillboxes throughout the land. The line running through Tandridge District and which is in the rather flat area in the south of the district, was part of the General Head Quarters Line (GHQ) which stretched from the Bristol channel to the Thames estuary. The pillboxes were about 100m apart therefore constituted an uninterrupted line of defence but neverthe- less they presented rather prominent targets to the enemy. It would have helped if they had MQ been earthed over as was the case in Belgium. Basically the line was an anti-tank defence and  in front were either water courses or an anti-tank ditch (which remains only in local memory), and barbed wire obstructions. Those required to man the line were instructed not to regard it as last ditch defence. If enemy infantry got close enough to use grenades and flame throwers the pillboxes were to be evacuated. In construction the basic protective properties of concrete were enlisted. The brick coverings not only added to the strength of the construction but acted as shuttering during the building process. Local Royal Engineer commanders enlisted local builders for the job. Most of the pillboxes still stand in reasonably good condition. In general only the brickwork has deteriorated over time. Visitors today will find two types; the infantry type and the anti-tank type which has an open front to accommodate the anti-tank guns. In theory the pillboxes and hills of the North Downs and the Greensand ridge constituted a sound defensive system but in practice they would have been of little use because the defeated British army had lost nearly all of its arms and equipment, particularly its anti-tank guns in France and Belgium. Some pillboxes are outside the GHQ line.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bromley by Bow

Post to the west (north west quarter) Mile End Post to the west (north east quarter) Post to the east Bromley by Bow Post to the north Old Ford Addington Road Addington Arms . Pub dating from the 1860s. It does not appear to be still there. Police stables . From 1938 twenty horses were located here. These stables were built in moderne style white concrete by police surveyor Gilbert Mackenzie Trench. There is a stable at the back as well as tack rooms and a chimney for the forge – there was a full time farrier. Above are two flats for married police officers. The white concrete wall is original.  Alfred Street 1-5 Inland Revenue Office . Sold off 1981. Has been used as a college an as offices Almshouses Way, This was once called Priscilla Street.  1 Drapers' Almshouses . These were built in 1706.  What remains is a brick group of four tenements with central raised and pedimented chapel. They were restored in 1982 but were originally part of a larger group funded by
Read more

South Norwood

Post to the south Woodside Post to the east Birkbeck Post to the north Anerley Albert Road This road is the earliest built here, first listed in 1855, and although the Croydon Canal was no longer in use it influenced the alignment of the road. From the junction with Portland Road looking the curve of the road reflects the line of the old canal which was to the north of the houses. It is named after Albert, the Prince Consort. 74-76 Stanleybury . Very large three-storey semis. Built for William Stanley, who moved to 74 in 1867. William Stanley’s works in South Norwood was complimented by his local philanthropy. His site is now a close of modern flats. Accidentally demolished. 67 small trading estate and MOT centre .  At one time this was home to a theatre transport specialist. St.Mark . This was the first church in the area and is the parish church by G. H. Lewis. The nave was built in 1852 and the church was extended in 1862 and in successive years until 1890. It is in Kentis
Read more

River Lea/Bow Creek Canning Town

River Lea/Bow Creek The Lea winds itself generally southwards towards the Thames TQ 39505 81448 Canning Town on the Essex bank of Lea/Bow Creek. This was, and is, a heavily industrialised area together with a very down market housing area with markets, shops, cinemas, pubs and many charitable and missionary organisations. In the 2000s public transport has been transformed and much housing renewed, and it is an area in a great deal of change. Post to the west Poplar Post to the south Leamouth   and Dome Post to the east Canning Town, Butchers Road Post to the north West Ham Station Appleby Road The road is named after a local ARP warden who was killed during the Blitz. A pre-war suburban ideal is demonstrated in this West Ham estate. Barking Road It was built by the Commercial Road Turnpike Trust from the East India Docks eastwards. Now the A124 it formed part of the original A13 before the building so the East Ham  and Barking Bypass in 1928. It was widened as part o
Read more