ln none of the surviving examples is there any exterior blast wall protecting the entrance. Type ‘A’ may still be seen near the Long Reach (2), on Thanet Way close to the Roman Galley (2), and at Tyler Hill. Others were located on the beach at Seasalter, at the Harbour (west) and near the Long Rock, Swalecliffe. Two examples of Type ‘B‘ may be seen on the Canterbury Road (west side) near the Red Lion.
Local contractors built these Strong Points with materials supplied by Robert Brett & Son, the quarry owners of Canterbury. Mr Fred Keen of Swalecliffe worked for Bretts and could remember loading trucks and trailers with materials for delivery to sites over a wide area. Leaving his home at 4.30 am, he was challenged at the Railway Arch and at Chestfield Post Office (now ‘Homestead’) by contingents of No 1 Platoon Home Guard. The Royal Engineers presumably sited these Strong Points; but the location of several would appear to reveal a lack of understanding as to the manner in which they were to be used.
Fortifications at nodal points along the ‘Stop Lines’ were intended, as has been explained, to hold up the enemy advance until mobile troops of the Regular Army arrived to throw back the invader. In doing so it was expected that the enemy would also expend much valuable ammunition. Once a Strong Point had been pin pointed by the enemy and was in danger of being destroyed or overrun, it was expected that the garrison would slip away and adopt alternative aggressive action.
Typical Pillbox layouts
