Osea Island Pill Box, River Blackwater, Essex.
Posted by: 
greysman
N 51° 43.241 E 000° 47.022
31U E 346913 N 5732296
Overlooking the approaches to Maldon, this pill box is in good condition protected by the sea wall.
Waymark Code: WMKWM2
Location: Eastern England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 06/03/2014
Views: 4
This pill box is at the extreme south-east corner of Osea Island overlooking the River Blackwater and the approaches to Heybridge and Maldon. It's part of the defences put in place to defend against seaborne invasion by the Germans during WWII and one of the last ones upriver before these two ports. Its good condition is no doubt in some part due to the inaccessibility of Osea Island, cut off by the tide twice a day, and the protection against the waves afforded by the sea wall. There is a 'brother' pill box at the north-east corner of the island.
It's a double-ended pillbox constructed of concrete, 33' long x 15' wide and has eight sides. The entrance is on the NE face and all six loopholes are open. The pillbox is in good condition and the top of it stands some three feet above the sea wall allowing the entire structure to be seen.
The 'brother' box is also double-ended, 30’ long x 15’ wide and is constructed of concrete. At the seaward end it faces across saltings to the River Blackwater and at the landward end it faces meadowland. The entrance is on the NW side and five of the six loopholes are open.
Osea Island was the site of a Coastal Motor Torpedo Boat base during World War I and 2000 sailors were billeted there, mainly in temporary huts which were removed after the war. In World War II, the island was occupied by the army with some 1000 troops stationed there.
Access to the island is across the causeway from Osea Road off the B1026 between Goldhanger and Haybridge, the road is covered by the tide twice a day.