Balgownie Links

NJ 95720 10943 World War II pillbox. This World War Two pillbox is the third of the five pillboxes which survive on Balgownie Beach, north of the River Don. Partially visible, it faces the sea and has six-sides. The pillbox has an irregular hexagonal plan with a flat concrete roof. The rear wall is longer than the other five sides and the entrance is in its centre. Each of the other sides is pierced by wide loop hole firing positions. Construction of the pillbox involved pouring concrete into wooden shuttering. The external walls of this pillbox bear the signs of its construction. The wood grain from the shuttering can be seen imprinted on the smooth concrete. In 1996 the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland surveyed this pillbox. The entrance was recorded on the west (landward) side, the walls 0.38m thick and the distance across the flat roof 6m. At the time of their survey the pillbox had been undermined by the sea, exposing the foundations and a large concrete plinth. The foundations were of concrete sewer pipes set vertically in the sand. On visiting the pillbox in 2007 it was possible to access the interior. This pillbox contains a continuous concrete ledge over 50cm deep in front of the five loop holes. Six concrete legs support the ledge and its purpose presumably was support artillery. Due to the confined space that remained there is no blast wall inside, unlike many other pillboxes of this type. On vulnerable coasts a defensive line was created, with concrete blocks set in lines over miles linking pillboxes and other defences. The purpose of the anti tank blocks was to slow the progress of tanks. Should they try to negotiate through the line the tank's vulnerable underside would be exposed to fire. Anti tank blocks were cast in a variety of forms, usually on site.

Visited during fieldwork by SCAPE. Pillbox seen from a distance during survey.

Information from S. Boyd and J. Hambly - Scottish Coastal Archaeology and the Problem of Erosion (SCAPE).