The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}.

The pillbox is the most familiar type of C20 defensive building. Sometimes referred to as defence posts, blockhouses or police posts. Concrete pillboxes were first used by the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War. The concept was copied by the Germans in WW1 and later by the British. The majority of WW2 pillboxes were associated with beach defences, stop-lines and nodal points. Some were sited to defend coastal batteries, airfields, radar stations and factories. More than 18,000 were built during 1940. In June 1940 branch FW3 of the War Office Directorate of Fortifications and Works issued designs for about a dozen standard pillboxes. In practice a multiplicity of designs arose. However most pillboxes consist of a basic squat, heavily constructed building, usually flat-roofed, no more than 1.98m high and quadrilateral, polygonal or circular in plan. There were one or two entrances, sometimes protected by a porch or wall. They all have a series of horizontal slits (firing loops, loopholes or embrasures) to provide interlocking fields of fire over the anticipated direction of attack. Most pillboxes were designed for rifles or light machine guns. More heavily armed examples had Vickers machine guns, anti-tank guns or Hotchkiss guns. Pillbox walls are almost invariably of concrete, sometimes with brick shuttering or stone facing {Defence of Britain Handbook, 1995, pp 79-82}.

Condition survey carried out in 2002 - the bronze statuary appears to be in good condition. The stonework has been cleaned and is now harbouring green lichen. Several areas of minor impact damage to the steps and one poor quality mortar repair. Spray can graffiti at low level. Recommendations - remove litter on a regualr routine maintenance basis. Replace mortar repair to steps with matching stone indent {4}. Condition survey 2008 - the bronze statues are in sound condition but they suffer from atmospheric pollution and lack of regular care. Cleaning, re-patination and waxing are needed. The stone is generally good condition. One piece beneath the mining figure is weathered and the edges of the steps have suffered impact damage. Most of the jointing is sound, only a few open joints in the pedestal.

Condition survey carried out in 2002 - in generally good condition. The sandstone pedestal has been cleaned with only partial success and the stone now harbours green lichen. Minor stone erosion of undercut areas. Several open mortar joints in the pedestal {4}. The statue was cleaned in the 1970s using unsuitable corrosive chemicals which destroyed the patina and discoloured the metalwork. In 2005 Bronze Restorations carried out careful abrasion of the surface of the poorly treated area to completely restore it and patinated the statue back to its original colour. Condition survey 2008 - the monument is in generally good condition. The bronze has been cleaned and waxed. Less successful has been the cleaning of the sandstone pedestal which has green algae and lichen. Minor weathering of areas of stone below the projecting cornice. Open joints on pedestal. Recommendation - Rake out and re-point open joints with a weak mix hydraulic lime mortar. Maintain bronze cleaning and waxing regime.

Condition survey carried out in 2002 - the railings on the south side of the monument have been removed to make way for a footpath to the Hancock Museum. The monument presents an appearance of general neglect. The bronze statue and plaques are in generally good condition. There is some graffiti scratched onto the bronze plaques. The stonework is in moderately good condition. Probable chemical cleaning has contributed to some localised stone erosion. Some of the stone steps have been displaced. The timber slats to the bench seat are disintegrating. The iron railings are neglected. The stone plinth has been split. Recommendations - repair and relocate within grassed area in front of museum {4}. In 2003 the bronze elements of the piece were cleaned by Bronze Restorations and the surface patina re-applied. A protective silicon wax will now protect the bronze permanently. Condition survey 2008 - the bronze statue and plaques are in generally good condition and have been cleaned and re-finished in the last year. Graffiti scratched into the bronze plaques has been obliterated. The condition of the stone is less satidfactory. Open joints across the top of the copings to the wing wall may be letting water into the stone below. There is severe localised disintegration of stones in undercut areas which seems to result from a concentration of salts left by evaporation. In some sections the moulded details have been completely lost and the structural integrity of the stone is clearly in doubt. Open joints on the raised stone paving in front of the monument. Two pieces of step have been prised forward. Paint is daubed on the steps. The iron railings are loose. Timber slats to stone bench seats have disintegrated. Recommendations - survey and recording of masonry and railings, reinstatement of ironwork and timber slatted seats, masonry repairs, re-bed stone steps, clean and wax all bronze.