Monument record MLI99403 - First World War Pillbox, Merrikin's Pullover
Summary
First World War pillbox at Merrikin's Pullover.
Type and Period (1)
- PILLBOX (First World War to 21st Century - 1917 AD to 2050 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
A non-standard camouflaged pillbox, with rusticated finish. {1}{2}{3}
The structure dates from the First World War, and is situated to the rear (south-west) of a Second World War pillbox (see MLI43259). It was built to enfilade the beach with machine-gun fire, and was constructed of poured concrete using timber shuttering, giving its surface a distinct ridged appearance (NB. The photograph in this Source is incorrectly captioned as Theddlethorpe St Helen). {4}
Photographs of the pillbox were taken in June 2012, during site visits conducted for the Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey. The structure is orientated along a south-east to north-west axis, with the entrance door located in the middle of the south-western elevation. The structure has just two embrasures, located in the end walls, giving enfilading fields of fire along the beach, but not to the front. The rusticated appearance of the exterior is the result of a sandbag and timber shuttering, used when the concrete was poured into place. {5}
Although the structure's exact date of construction is not known, it is thought likely to date to 1917, after the threat of invasion from German forces grew following the collapse of effective Russian opposition on the Eastern Front. The lack of front facing embrasures and use of sandbag shuttering was an attempt to make the structure shell-proof and able to resist naval bombardment. The pillbox is thought to have been manned by soldiers of the 7th/8th (combined) Battalions, Sherwood Foresters. It is believed to have been re-used during the Second World War, when it was complemented with an additional pillbox to its front (see MLI43259), and anti-tank cubes were installed to block the nearby gap in the sea bank (see MLI43257). For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {6}
Sources/Archives (6)
- <1> SLI4545 Unpublished Document: Dr Mike Osborne. 1999. Defence of Britain Gazetteer. p.1.
- <2> SLI14623 Digital Archive: Council for British Archaeology. 2006. Defence of Britain Archive. 7015.
- <3> SLI12104 Photograph: Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. 2008. Second World War Coastal Defence Site Photographs. No.1.
- <4> SLI14522 Bibliographic Reference: Dr Mike Osborne. 2010. Defending Lincolnshire, A Military History from Conquest to Cold War. pp.122-3, fig.39.
- <5> SLI16012 Report: Humber Field Archaeology. 2013. Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire: Phase 3, Field Survey and Historical Assessment. SH1.
- <6> SLI13386 Website: Historic England (formerly English Heritage). 2011->. The National Heritage List for England. http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/. 1443966.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TF 44527 95826 (4m by 4m) Surveyed |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | SKIDBROOKE WITH SALTFLEET HAVEN, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (2)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- Event - Survey: Site Visit to the First World War Pillbox, Second World War Pillbox and Anti-Tank Cubes, Merrikin's Pullover (ELI13036)
- Event - Survey: Site Visit to the Pillboxes, Merrikin's Pullover (ELI12021)
- Event - Survey: Site Visits for the Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire: Phase 3, Field Survey and Historical Assessment (ELI13024)
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Jun 2 2021 2:26PM
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