Norcon pillbox, World War II fortification in Dorset, United Kingdom.
Norcon pillbox is a small concrete fortification from World War II made by stacking concrete pipes together. The structure has a few small openings for firing and was originally very low to avoid being visible from a distance.
This fortification was built in 1940-1941 when invasion of England seemed likely and defensive structures were needed quickly. A company called Norcon helped produce these simple structures in large numbers to protect the coast.
The structure shows how engineers and military worked together during World War II to defend the coast. You can see today how quickly these buildings were made and how they fit into the landscape.
The pillbox sits in an open area and can be reached on foot, but stick to worn paths to avoid rough ground. The concrete structure is accessible from outside, but the inside is tight and low, so watch your head if you look inside.
The pillbox was built in an unusual way: thick concrete pipes were stacked like coins on top of each other to quickly create durable shelters. This method was so efficient that a single factory could complete several of these structures each day.
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