List of Northumbrian Road Blocks, Pillboxes and Defended Villages manned by Home Guard Sept. 1940

Information from 162nd Infantry Brigade War Diary - WO 166/1035.

Just to clarify - the number following the town name is the Map Ref.

Ref O.S. 1" to 1 mile

HERTS - 2nd Bn

Road Blocks

All Blocks:

Alnmouth - 7330
Lesbury - 7232
Hipsburn 7231
Seaton Point - 753329
Shortridge - 7328
Long Houghton - 7335
Warkworth - 7326
Shilbottle - 6829
Guyzance - 7024
Alnwick - 6733

Defended Villages

Long Houghton - 7335
Alnwick - 6733

2 HERTS - 2nd Bn

Road Blocks

Warkworth - 740259
Warkworth - 743258
Togston 740233
Hauxley 770234
Radcliffe - 758228
Togston Barns - 744223
Hadston - 748207
Chevington Drift - 748195

All Blocks:

Amble - 7524
Acklington - 7222
Felton - 6720

Defended Villages

Amble - 7524
Acklington - 7222
Chevington Drift - 7519
Chilburn - 7417

Pillboxes

Gloster Hill - 747248
Whitefield House - 746188


2 HERTS - 3 Bn

Road Blocks

Widdrington Sta - 735145

2 Blocks:

Tritlington - 6913
Ulgham - 7212

Pillboxes

Widdrington (5 Pill Boxes) - 7416

17 (Pnr) Bn. RF. - 3 Bn.

Road Blocks

All Blocks:

Woodhorn - 7809

2 Blocks:

Ellington - 7612

Defended Villages

Ellington - 7612
Pegswood - 7107
Netherton - 7202

Pillboxes

Sheepwash - 744062
Bothal Barns - 733075
Pegswood - 717082
Fawdon House - 708087
Morpeth - 702066
Morpeth - 703070
Morpeth - 703076
Pegswood Moor - 697080
Cottingwood Common - 687077
Cottingwood Common - 683076
Cotting Burn - 678082

6 BEDFS HERTS - 2 Bn

Road Blocks

Bolton - 598342
Bridge End - 601337
Prendwick - 4932
Great Ryle - 512333
Forestburn Gate - 557168
Callaly - 545303
New Moor House - 586271
Trewhitt - 496272
Sharperton - 445245
Newton on the Moor - 6625

All Blocks:

Rothbury - 5422

2 Blocks:

Glanton - 5635
Whittingham - 5532
Longframlington - 6221

Defended Villages

Bolton - 5934
Glanton - 5635
Whittingham - 5532
Rothbury - 5422
Pauperhaugh - 5920

6 BEDFS HERTS - 3 Bn

Road Blocks

Ogle - 625994
Belsay - 590991
Rothley X RDS - 533103
Scotts Gap - 5207

All Blocks:

Whalton - 6101

2 Blocks:

Netherwitton - 6910
Mitford - 6506

Defended Villages

Longhorsley - 6315
Middleton - 5405
Morpeth - [No reference]

Pillboxes

Morpeth - 681071
Morpeth - 680068
East Lane End - 670079
Benridge - 665075
Spital Hill - 663066
Mitford - 662062
Mitford - 657055
East Coldside - 645054
R.Wansbeck - 622050
R.Wansbeck - 616051
Clay House - 608048
Meldon - 603045
Low Angerton - 596047

 

Hello Jules,

Your post covers both the area where I grew up - Ogle, Belsay, Scots Gap and Whalton being very close -, where I was married - Morpeth - and where I roamed - Alnwick, Warkworth, Alnmouth, Amble, Rothbury, etc. Alnwick and Warkworth have castles; the former being the home of the Duke of Northumberland and 'hogwarts' in the Harry Potter films. I have relatives buried at Belsay - deceased ones of course!

A lot of the beaches, especially those north of Newbiggin, which are mainly vast, sandy, dune laden, stretches of lovely countryside, still have big concrete tank obstacles about 10' square blocks; which, stangely, blend into the scenery very well. Brings back memories of my childhood...

Many thanks for posting.

Best,

Steve.

 

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your reply - and the assurance that your buried relatives are deceased!

I recall driving along a stretch of the coast road round there several years ago and found it stunning. How lucky to have had that on your doorstep.

Jules.

 

Jules
Wonder how many of the pillboxes still stand today, as Steve says the Tank Traps Aka Dragons Teeth do blend well into the dunes and grasses.

Nice part of the country especially the drive from Beadenall up the coast to Berwick-on-Tweed.

 

I wonder if The National Trust would have that info Mike. There is a link to a PDF prepared for them in 2009 about Druridge Bay called Historic Environment Survey for the National Trust Properties on the Northumberland Coast.

http://www.aenvironment.co.uk/File_transfers/Northumberland%20Coast/0058-1_Druridge%20Bay%20Final.pdf

On page 27 there is an image of the bay with the locations of pillboxes, anti-tank ditches, etc. Some other interesting photos too.

 

I forgot to mention that Acklington is the home of RAF Acklington from which the 13 Group fighters patrolled during WWII. It ceased to be an RAF base in the early 1970's!

Best,

Steve.

 

came across a new use for the tank blocks. bit heavy to throw, these are from varius walks along the northumberland coast.


ruined pill-box at scarbourgh

View attachment 97472



The stone is out side tyne-mouth priory is this to do with the battery that was stationed there ?
Brian

 

There is an interesting pillbox in the garden of a farmhouse at peter's Mill beside the A1 at Alnwick - looks very home-made!

 

Came across these when out walking at seal sands Hartle pool

 

Hi Brian - thanks for adding to thread

You don't happen to have any pics of the farmhouse do you Steve?

 

I will get some next time up North

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd206/Briancolleendylan/pillbox/537e6d1a-d670-4824-abf0-7ada290b5826.jpg?t=1365454185
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd206/Briancolleendylan/pillbox/th_c8cd966a-d885-4a47-bcef-2c536db9db22.jpg?t=1365454113

Dont know if this works had to resize , here are a couple more from around the site

 

Have a look at the database of the "Defence of Britain Project" - this is searchable by place name and type of pillbox etc and would cross-refer to the original list set out above, provided some helpful volunteer had submitted the information.

I have been trying to ascertain what remains of the defences constructed in South Devon in 1940 by 70th Infantry Brigade. Sadly, there seems to be very little still extant.

For those interested there are links on the Memorial Website at www.newmp.org.uk/70brigade

Regards

John L Dixon

 

I’m researching Belsay and I wondered if you knew where in the village this road block was ?
Is this the 6th or 3rd btn defending here ?

 

David

The original post was years ago. Have you tried the edob database to see what the entry says. Google edob and Matt Aldred.