IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Rodney Drive, CHRISTCHURCH, BH23 3ER

A grassland, woodland & river nature reserve owned by Christchurch Council. Trees are alder, oak, birch, ash & rhododendron; the last does not seem to have become invasive.

Industrial Estate off Somerford Road.

Would a time-warp pilot be able to find the runway? The airfield, previously used by MoD, Airspeed/de Havilland and a flying club, closed in 1962, and the land was sold for redevelopment as housing and industrial estates.

- Pillbox (type FW3/22): DoB ID: e29835 Type 22 pillbox in Mudeford Wood, part of the wartime defences that protected the former Airspeed aircraft factory and the airfield of RAF Christchurch. It is the standard type, hexagonal in plan, with embrasures on all six sides including that of the entrance which has been blocked up with rails. Image

- Pillbox (type FW3/22): DoB ID: e29835 Type 22 pillbox in Mudeford Wood, part of the wartime defences that protected the former Airspeed aircraft factory and the airfield of RAF Christchurch. The first of two interior views, this to the left looking in through one of the embrasures showing the concrete shuttered walls and ceiling, the outline of the wooden planks that were used being clearly visible. A 'T' or 'Y' shape anti-ricochet wall of brick divides the interior space in two. Battens under the embrasures are evidence that there were shelves underneath for the riflemen to rest their elbows and for their ammunition. There is an embrasure sized concrete block on the floor that may have been used to block off a loop that was not being used. Image

- Pillbox (type FW3/22): DoB ID: e29835 Type 22 pillbox in Mudeford Wood, part of the wartime defences that protected the former Airspeed aircraft factory and the airfield of RAF Christchurch. The second interior view, this is to the right of the anti-ricochet wall. Image

- Pillbox (type FW3/22): DoB ID: e29835 Type 22 pillbox in Mudeford Wood, part of the wartime defences that protected the former Airspeed aircraft factory and the airfield of RAF Christchurch. View of one of the embrasures. Image

- Pillbox (type FW3/22): DoB ID: e29835 Type 22 pillbox in Mudeford Wood, part of the wartime defences that protected the former Airspeed aircraft factory and the airfield of RAF Christchurch. Located within a clearing in the brambles, come the summer it will be completely hidden. Image

Typical strictly functional industrial estate, built on an airfield site sold off in 1962. Will future industrial archaeologists take delight in sites like this as we do with our Georgian/Victorian industrial heritage?

This modern postbox serves a modest industrial estate on the site of the former Somerford airfield – hence the name Airfield Way, along with nearby Airspeed Road, de Havilland Way and The Runway. Items need to be in the box by 6 o'clock on weekday evenings, or noon on Saturdays, to be sure of catching the same day's post.