Eight concrete pillboxes from the First World War in Norfolk have received listed status from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, on the advice of Historic England.
Built along the River Ant and North Walsham and Dilham Canal between 1916 and 1918, the pillboxes (small fortified structures) were a vital part of Britain’s defence system, protecting the vulnerable east coast from a potential German seaborne invasion.
The pillboxes showcase the innovative concrete block construction method used to create Britain’s coastal defence network in the First World War. They have their original steel doors, gun loop shutters and white-painted interiors that allowed soldiers to operate in these small, confined spaces.
Where are the newly listed First World War pillboxes in Norfolk?
- Two on Bradfield Common
- One in Bacton Wood, North Walsham
- Two to the north and south of Happisburgh Road, White Horse Common
- One in Wayford Bridge, Wayford, Norwich
- Two to the north and south of Bacton Road, Little London, North Walsham
Find out more about Britain's abandoned coastal villages here.
Norfolk's pillboxes in pictures
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