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The Craigavon Pillbox (DHP No. 229) is a Second World War defensive structure located in Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Built as part of the extensive anti-invasion fortifications constructed across the United Kingdom and Ireland during the early 1940s, this pillbox exemplifies the standard concrete blockhouse design deployed to guard strategically important locations and infrastructure. The monument is protected by the Historic Environment Division under reference 6876.
The pillbox sits upon bedrock comprising unnamed extrusive rocks of Palaeogene age, specifically mafic lava and mafic tuff formed during volcanic activity in the early Tertiary period. This geological foundation would have provided a solid base for the substantial concrete structure designed to withstand small arms fire and provide protected firing positions for defending troops.
Craigavon, purpose-built as a planned industrial town from 1921, became a significant centre for manufacturing during wartime and thus warranted fortification against potential aerial attack or invasion. This pillbox forms part of the surviving military heritage of Northern Ireland's Second World War defences, contributing to our understanding of civilian and industrial protection strategies during the conflict.
Wwii pillbox - dhp no.229 is a scheduled monument protected by Department for Communities NI under reference 6876. View the official record →
The Craigavon Pillbox (DHP No. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) under reference 6876.
Wwii pillbox - dhp no.229 is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by DfC Northern Ireland (NISMR) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Ni. The official designation reference is 6876.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Pillbox - dhp no.224 (3.2 km), Wwii pillbox - dhp no.230 (3.3 km), Pillbox - dhp no.228 (3.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Wwii pillbox - dhp no.229's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Wwii pillbox - dhp no.229 stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Palaeogene, bedrock that formed in the Paleogene. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.