GM619

St Mary's Well Bay Pillbox  

20/09/2019  

Designated  

Vale of Glamorgan  

Sully  

317413  

167522  

Defence  

Pillbox  

Modern  

The monument consists of a Type 25 variant pillbox, dating to the early period of the Second World War (AD 1940-41). It is situated on a low sea cliff at the S end of St Mary's Well Bay overlooking the bay to the E. The pillbox formed part of the Glamorgan coastal crust anti-invasion defences. It also served to protect the Severn Fixed Defences coast artillery battery observation post 92m to the SW as well as the S flank of Lavernock Point anti-aircraft and coastal battery. The pillbox is circular in shape on plan. It measures 3.5m in diameter and measures a maximum of 1m in external height on the seaward side. The pillbox is constructed from reinforced concrete and shuttered using corrugated sheet steel, which has left its characteristic marking on both internal and external faces. The walls measure 0.48m in thickness. Internally, the pillbox measures 1.98m in height and 2.54m in diameter. The pillbox was equipped with three E-facing embrasures. The entrance on the N side was accessed via a series of concrete steps and protected by a red clay brick retaining wall. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Second World War anti-invasion practices. The Type 25 pillbox is a rare survival in the UK and very few extant examples survive in Wales. It is well preserved and is an important relic of actions taken against the perceived threat of a German invasion from Ireland. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The importance of the monument is further enhanced by the group value it shares with the scheduled remains of the Anti-Aircraft and Coastal Battery West of Lavernock Point (GM448) located 750m to the NE. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and an area around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. It is circular in shape on plan and measures 15m in diameter. It is centred on NGR ST 17412 67523.