Norcon pillbox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Norcon pillbox |
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| Deployed throughout the United Kingdom | |
An example of a Norcon Pillbox at Moreton Ford, near Weymouth, Dorset. SY805895.
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| Type | Pillbox |
| Site history | |
| In use | Second World War |
| Materials | Concrete |
The Norcon pillbox was a type of small, strong fort built in Britain during World War II. These forts were part of Britain's plan to defend itself if an enemy invasion happened between 1940 and 1941. It was a round, concrete structure named after the company, Norcon, that made it.
What is a Norcon Pillbox?
How it was Built
The Norcon pillbox was made from a large concrete pipe. This pipe was about 6 feet (1.8 meters) wide and 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. Its walls were about 4 inches (10 centimeters) thick and had small openings called loopholes. Soldiers could shoot through these loopholes.
The pipe was usually sunk into the ground over a pit. This gave soldiers enough space to stand up inside, about 6 feet (1.8 meters) of headroom. Most Norcon pillboxes had a roof made of wood, corrugated iron, and earth. Some had concrete roofs, while others had no roof at all. To make them even stronger, extra layers of sandbags were often placed around the outside walls.
Getting In and Out
Soldiers could enter or leave the pillbox in a few ways. Some had an open roof, while others had a hatch in the roof. Some also had a low entrance cut into the pipe, which led to a narrow trench. This trench would help protect soldiers as they moved in and out.
Other Pipe Forts
Norcon was not the only company to design forts from pipes. Another similar design was the Croft pillbox. This was made by the Croft Granite, Brick and Concrete Company. However, the Norcon pillbox was much more common. Because of this, its name became well-known for this type of pipe-shaped fort.
Norcon Company History
Norcon Ltd was a small company that made large concrete pipes using a special spinning method. Before the war, around 1938, the company tried to use their pipes to make air raid shelters. These shelters were meant to protect people during bombing attacks. While this idea wasn't very successful, a few small Norcon shelters have been found.
How Strong Were They?
Concerns About Safety
When Norcon pillboxes were being installed in July 1940, some officers worried about how strong they were. For example, one pipe section broke while it was being moved into place. Another Norcon pillbox did not hold up well when it was shot at with a machine gun.
Because of these concerns, some people thought the Norcon pillbox was "possibly the most dangerous, cheap and nasty of all pillbox designs." It's true that they probably didn't offer as much protection as bigger, reinforced concrete forts. However, a chief engineer said that they were still "considerably better than many sandbag emplacements." Sandbag emplacements were simple walls made of sandbags, which offered less protection.
Quick to Build
The pipes for the Norcon pillbox were made from a special type of cement called "high alumina fondue cement." This cement set very quickly. This meant the company could make about 20 pillbox units every day. This cement also became strong in just 24 hours. Regular cement, called Portland cement, would take about 28 days to reach the same strength.
Even though not a huge number were built, Norcon pillboxes were found all over the United Kingdom. They were located from southwest England all the way to the Orkney Islands in the north. Records show that at least 27 Norcon pillbox sites still exist today.
