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Bickton Mill pillbox type FW3/26: DoB ID: S0012671
This pillbox at Bickton Mill would appear to have been the most southerly of the Fordingbridge defences, and the sole survivor of two pillboxes that were constructed at this locality. Built into a bank overlooking the river, the area in front that it commands is now a commercial fish farm.
The town of Fordingbridge became a major component of the Ringwood Stop Line in 1940 when it was designated an 'Anti-tank Island'. The perceived invasion threat was from the south and west, and accordingly it was where most of the defences were built. The town and its surroundings has managed to retain a fair number of its WWII defences, although of these, inevitably perhaps, it's the comparatively indestructable brick and concrete pillboxes that remain today. Having said that, it's therefore a mystery why there are for example no surviving anti-tank blocks, or any sign of the several rare L-plan infantry section posts (holding 8 - 10 men) that were located to the north and south of the town. One possible survivor is listed on the DoB Archive on private land south of the parish church. Like the others it seems to have vanished, and probably lies buried under a large mound of earth and scrub at its designated location.
SU1412 : WWII Hampshire - Ringwood Stop Line, Avon Valley - Fordingbridge anti-tank island (12)