IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Cunningham Close, CHRISTCHURCH, BH23 3EU

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.

For most of its length, the River Mude can be walked along, apart from a culverted section about 200m long. Here, it is emerging from the culvert at the road bridge on De Havilland Way.

- 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

This postbox stands in an area with roads named after two things – the former airfield here (names such as de Havilland Way, The Runway and Airfield Way) and various birds (the signpost points down a walkway to houses in Grebe Close, Curlew Road and Mallard Close). The box is emptied finally at 5:30pm on weekdays and at 12:30pm on Saturdays.

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.