Ingleby Barwick / Thornaby Pillboxes
Presumably part of the defences of Thornaby Aerodrome, there are two pillboxes in the woodland between Ingleby Barwick and Thornaby.
One out in the open still has the metal mounting points for guns.
The second is a short distance to the North-west at the edge of woodland
July 27th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I visited the Pillbox in the open on 25/7/8, by the woodland between Thornaby and Ingleby Barwick. I parked behind the petrol station and made my way through the woods, hopped over the dividing stream via a shopping trolley stepping stone, and then made my way up the path. Just to the left of the shopping trolley crossing point is an impressive Giant Hogweed (an unwelcome addition from the USA). This thing is about 15 feet high and was supposed to herald the end of all english woodlife as we know: more press hysteria from years ago…
The Pillbox is still in a good condition with 3 metal pintel mounts visible in one half of the building; probably for a light machine gun or perhaps an anti-take rifle. I don’t think all 3 positions could have been used at once, as there isn’t that much room (and the British Armed Forces have always been notoriously stingy when it comes to equipment). Rather, 1 weapon would have been positioned in the best siting for the time.
Access is difficult at the moment due to the vegetation and the uneven ground.
February 21st, 2010 at 6:04 pm
You wouldn’t put more than one weapon in a box like that, It’s too small. If it was destroyed you would lose them all.
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:00 am
There’s quite a few of these scattered around Ingleby Barwick and Thornaby woods. I spent alot of time exploring them in my childhood and I still have a keen interest in this sort of thing. It would be nice to go back now and see if I’m still as keen to spend so much time in there. They are pretty grotty inside as you can imagine.
August 6th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
There are only these two Pillboxes left in Thornaby woods. There are no others.The only other interesting thing in Thornaby woods is the roman road near stoney bridge. There used to be a massive pillbox/underground air raid shelter just behind asda thornaby, possibly where the housing estate is. I was far to young to remember exactly what it was