Pill Box for Sale.

You will recall some time back I wandered about Chelmsford.  Returning homewards, I took the opportunity to visit this Pills Box erected during the Second World War.   Thousands of these were erected in various places in fear of German invasion.  Most of them it appears were positioned in the wrong place, they required to be built on the coast, the idea being to halt an enemy landing rather than deal with one that had occurred.  In the course of time no invasion came, indeed it was never planned.  In fact, when the allies, led by General Montgomery, did invade Normandy the vast coastal defences did not hinder the allied landing.  Considering the vast amount of concrete utilised by the German defenders in comparison to these wee 'pill boxes' situated by streams, railways and major roads, it indicates how difficult it would have been for the poorly armed defenders to halt a well trained attack.

This 'pill box,' is situated on the lower slope of the field.  Before harvest time it would be nearly hidden by crops and a difficult object to oppose, especially when covered by the second one, seen in the distance, and even lower down and therefore hidden from the road.  The lower 'pill box,' covers the river and the far bank.  I doubt a boat would be sailing up this river in 1940 but it could be used by troops to make their way forward.  

The purpose of all this does not concern the war, nor defensive strategy, it concerns money!  

You see the owner has put this up for sale, the idea is for someone to turn this WW2 'pill box,' into a house!  Not the one in this picture, the first one, though this one by the river might be a better one to convert into a home.  The details are all on Right Move everybody's favourite way of inspecting their neighbours home when they put it up for sale.

The claim this comes under 'Castle,' and the blurb says "Second World War bunker. Available for residential conversion under 81 E of the National Planning Policy Framework."  'Bunker,' is I suppose a correct word, though I only hear them called 'Pill Boxes,' because that is what they look like.  This one, like all the others, were never put to the test, except for 'Dad's Army' exercises I suppose.  Since 1945 they have lain untouched in many places, remarkable how often they appear in people's back gardens, farms, factories and the like.  Many have of course been removed, however, solid concrete is not that easy to pull apart.  Many like them remaining as a curio in a house, often with a covered hole which once was an 'Anderson' type air raid shelter.  

For a mere £80,000 a builder could redevelop this, plans are included, however, I feel they are not what I would create on this spot, or on the lower box either.  I can dream about this, even if I only have 47 pence to my name and cannot possibly buy this WW2 memento.