Summary
A non-standard pillbox of c.1940, constructed of brick and concrete, with an internal machine gun mounting.
Reasons for Designation
The Pillbox at Filton Airfield, South Gloucestershire is listed at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:
History
The earliest examples of pillboxes date from the First World War, although this example, along with many thousands of others, was constructed as part of a national defence programme in response to the threat of German invasion in 1940. The programme involved strengthening coastal defences (batteries, mines and barbed wire), and constructing defensive lines, or 'stop lines', stretching inland in order to slow down the progress of an invading force. During the Second World War, pillboxes were built along the stop lines and at nodal points, such as towns and villages, military bases and munitions factories. Twelve basic designs were approved by the War Office, although these were often varied to accommodate local considerations. The pillbox at Filton stands on the southern edge of the former airfield and its plan does not conform to any of the 12 types. It was designed to have optimum views across the airstrip. Since 1910 the site had been the headquarters of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, one of Britain's first aircraft manufacturers. By the Second World War the company supplied engines for nearly half the world's airlines and more than half the world's air forces, and in the Second World War it provided a third of the RAF's engines. Due to the inflexibility of their design and high cost compared to dug fieldworks, the deployment of pillboxes came under scrutiny in 1941 and the Home Office issued orders to stop building them in February 1942. The airfield was decommissioned by the current owners BAE Systems in 2012.
Details
A non-standard Second World War pillbox, probably of 1940 date.
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