Pillbox at SY 69924 73348 (Upper Osprey #1)
As part of the defence for HM Naval Base Portland and the Upper Osprey area of HMS Osprey, a World War II pillbox was positioned close to Incline Road at Upper Osprey. Built of brick and reinforced concrete, the structure contained a machine gun post. The pillbox was constructed sometime during 1940 as part of British anti-invasion preparations, at a time when the German's invasion plan, Operation Sea Lion, was considered a major threat. Across the UK, approximately 28,000 pillboxes and other similar defensive structures were built as part of the anti-invasion preparations, with around 6,500 surviving today.
With the upcoming closure of HM Naval Base Portland in 1995, scrub clearance was carried out in various areas of the base, including the site of the pillbox. During its clearance, it was reported that machine gun cartridges had been discovered. As part of the Defence of Britain Project, the pillbox was inspected in 1996 and found to be in good condition. It survived into the 21st century, despite extensive demolition work being carried out nearby at the former HMS Osprey complex around 2005. The pillbox was eventually demolished by Portland Port Ltd in late 2016 or early 2017, during further development work in the Upper Osprey area.
References
1) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420393 - website page
With the upcoming closure of HM Naval Base Portland in 1995, scrub clearance was carried out in various areas of the base, including the site of the pillbox. During its clearance, it was reported that machine gun cartridges had been discovered. As part of the Defence of Britain Project, the pillbox was inspected in 1996 and found to be in good condition. It survived into the 21st century, despite extensive demolition work being carried out nearby at the former HMS Osprey complex around 2005. The pillbox was eventually demolished by Portland Port Ltd in late 2016 or early 2017, during further development work in the Upper Osprey area.
References
1) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420393 - website page
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