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Pill Box Picturesque
This WWII pill box bunker is on the banks of the Thames, somewhere near Goring. The bunkers are apparently too difficult to demolish - which I guess is their point. The owners of this one seem to have decided to incorporate the left-over military installation into some landscape design. Note how the dry stone walling (incorporating planting features) provides a textured plinth, and how planting has been introduced over the top of the bunker. The statuette birdbath might be regarded by some as a step too far. Landscape follies often summon historical imagery, and sometimes simulate some kind of destruction in the form of ruination. Here, the history is real, and the destruction a possibility averted by the Battle of Britain and the Russian front. Alternatively it could be deep-cover camouflage. Which reminds me to dig out a photograph of a WWII faux gothic revival machine gun emplacement addition to the Houses of Parliament. whereabouts is this? I live near goring and i've never come across it... Pete - If I remeber rightly, its just along the riverbank from the Beetle and Wedge. for some barmy reason, i've visited loads of these places and i have to say that u seem to have found the Lanesbrough Hotel of pill boxes. the stauette birdbath sets the mighty blank walls off effectively. and the sweeping staircase up makes the idea of manning the guns a pleasure. a room card could slot nicely in to the turrets, allowing the roof to automatically raise. 
Posted by sam at October 8, 2007 2:00 AM
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