Doldowlod Pillbox

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument consists of a reinforced concrete pillbox, dating to the early period of World War II (AD 1940-41). It was built as part of Western Command's Builth Wells to Caersws stop line, which ran via Rhayader and Llangurig. The pillbox was built into the top of a gentle W-facing slope, overlooking the River Wye and its floodplain to the W. It was also located immediately adjacent to the SW side of the (now disused) Mid Wales Railway between Rhayader and Builth Wells. The pillbox was built to standard War Office FW3/22 specifications from reinforced concrete with inner and outer red clay brick shuttering. It is a regular hexagon in shape on plan and measures 4.68m in length E-W, 4.16m in width N-S and 2.38m in height externally on the W side. The walls measure 0.38m in thickness. The pillbox possesses six embrasures and a simple NE-facing entrance, all of which remain unblocked. The internal anti-ricochet wall is cast from concrete and mounted on legs. It resembles five stub walls radiating from a central point. Externally, a grass covered bund of rock and earth has been built up around the base of the pillbox on all sides to provide protection and camouflage through concealment.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of World War II anti-invasion practices. The monument is one of the few surviving visible remains of Western Command's Builth Wells to Caersws stop line and is an important relic of actions taken against the perceived threat of a German invasion from Ireland. It is very well preserved and features an internal anti-ricochet wall of rare design and construction. The site retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The importance of the site is enhanced further by its functional relationship with the Coed Chwefri Vickers Machine Gun Emplacement (BR399) at Builth Wells.

The area scheduled comprises the remains described and an area around within which related evidence may be expected to survive. The scheduled area is circular and measures 20m in diameter.