Canvey & Benfleet's Last Pillboxes

Canvey & Benfleet's Last Pillboxes - WW2 Seawall Trail

Рет қаралды 4,869

Күн бұрын

Join us as we take a walk around Canvey Island and Benfleet's seawalls and take a look at two of the last surviving pillboxes in the area, as well as the sites and traces left from many of those that were demolished when the Canvey seawall was rebuilt. We have gradually explored all these locations over the 10 years of Beyond the Point - often venturing to them one at a time when we were younger. But now we've gladly been able to capture them all in context of each other in a single video.
Shot on the Nikon Z50
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Пікірлер: 51

@SZYB3 2 жыл бұрын

Love canvey…. it is a little gem 💎 in Essex ….a place you either love or hate ….stunning walks and views considering it’s so small ❤️🇬🇧👍🏻…have walked it’s whole outer loop …took me five hours👌🏻 Thanks for videos 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

@kimcason8764 Жыл бұрын

I used to live in Benfleet and the only reason I would go to Canvey, was a Night Club (Disco) called the 'Gold Mine.' The Place was Dingy, but Played Soul Music in the 1970s. I loved that Music at that Age. It was a Moment in time..! I Seem to Recall the D.J's name being Chris Hill. It's been a While, I cant be Sure..! Many Drinks were had, which I now Dont Do. But Fond Memories, I think..!? Great Video guys. Will check out more..! Kim in Oz.😎

@BeyondthePoint Жыл бұрын

A classic long lost venue

@samuraifool912 2 жыл бұрын

I lived in Benfleet in the 1960s until 1980. And as a Kid we were always finding ex British Insignia ( Badges and Buttons mainly.) In the Unmade Road ( Wavertree rd.) And when the Workman started laying the Road, the Guys dug up a British helmet and Parts of a Radio set. Which I kept until I left Uk. But most of the Stuff looked as if it had been burnt at some point..! I also Found an American token issued in 1790 era. William Pitt 'No Stamp Tax.' Sold it Recently for $600 Australian. To a Guy in the U.S. of A. But great Video Guys the Memories Came flooding back. Cheers kim in Oz. 😎

@BeyondthePoint 2 жыл бұрын

Cheers for the comment and some interesting memories there! Cool finds :)

@tasercs 2 жыл бұрын

A very interesting video and I'm impressed by the effort put into the post production. A lot of KZfaqrs could learn so much from you about how music should be used to great effect to enhance a video. So many just plaster music over the whole video just because they feel they have to - very often drowning out their voices! Thanks for posting.

@BeyondthePoint 2 жыл бұрын

Very kind of you, encouraging to hear. We do put a lot of time into getting the music right and timing the clips in with it so always glad to hear it is noted. Cheers!

@TOM_OUTDOORS 3 жыл бұрын

Teach the Germans a lesson! 🤣 Congratulations on 10 years guys. You've come so far. Been on Canvey today. Saw a couple of pillboxes on the way back across to the mainland. Love Canvey. Always listen to Dr Feelgood on the way over lol. Have you been up to Pitsea Mount to the ruined church? Went there today for the first time, amazing.

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers Tom! Nice, is there a vid coming on this at all? Gotta have the Feelgood going as is tradition. We have been there yeah, really cool place I took some night photos of it a few months ago. My grandparents got married there before it was partially demolished

@TOM_OUTDOORS 3 жыл бұрын

@@BeyondthePoint no we just went over to Canvey to eat KFC on the beach🤣 been sorting out Candices cat all day at the pet hospital cos it isn't well.

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Haha very fair play. Ah best wishes to the cat then!

@stephencleaves 3 жыл бұрын

Here's to the next 10 years ! Congratulations guys, you've produced a wonderful collection of videos documenting vanishing history, as always an interesting video, well produced and narrated.

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers for the support as always :)

@southendparaquest 3 жыл бұрын

Great video again lads. Will definitely give the area a look.

@terryjkent 3 жыл бұрын

Great work chaps. I never knew why those 'viewing areas' were made in the sea wall around the Oikos jetty and now I know! One thing I must say is there is so much trash around in your videos Canvey could really do with a good clean up. Thank you Gents very informative and professional video.

@ExploringWithEmAndStu 3 жыл бұрын

Well done on getting a good little lockdown explore done.. we are running out of videos from last year now and starting to struggle as we can't travel all that way to meet up atm 😔 I wish I had such interesting war history on my doorstep, its amazing what u can find when you take the time to look though.. Great video, loving the idea of a Man Cave Pillbox! 😄 Congratulations on the 10 years! 😁👍

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers! Yeah its a tricky one although i would say dont feel pressured to avoid gaps entirely. Any content you two make is good content!

@anthonydefreitas6006 3 жыл бұрын

Congratulations keep the good work up 👍

@spencerdodds2207 3 жыл бұрын

Another great video chaps!

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Cheers!

@angelabird4794 3 жыл бұрын

I love your passion of history x you tell us history, then fantastic photography, and then a bit of history where. I hate watching video and that talk talk talk guys x great video guys xx

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Very kind words Angela thanks!

@70sstreetracer 3 жыл бұрын

Did you know a plane crashed landed in Watlington road Benfleet which is the road leading to the old dump road.

@rachelj2795 Жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed your video. I visited Canvey for the first time this weekend, after reading that it was the setting for part of Dickens' 'Great Expectations,' and I was blown away by its atmosphere. I was wondering if you lead, or know of, any guided walks around the area as I'd love to learn more about its history.

@BeyondthePoint Жыл бұрын

Hi Rachel, glad that you liked our visit! Chris Fenwick used to do some walks around the island but I’m not sure if he still does them. The Canvey Archive would be your best bet.

@rachelj2795 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, that sounds amazing. I just heard of Chris recently in the Promised Island documentary. I found it such a moving film! I'll definitely check The Canvey Archive, and I look forward to watching more of your videos around the island.

@kelij06 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video lads, I’m surprised you didn’t go looking for the last concrete remains of any pill boxes of the army fort on canvey x

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

That's a video for another time! Sadly only two searchlight generator sheds survive from that, but worth covering separately

@danhudson4614 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video guys. No idea why this came up in my suggestions but I like it. Shame a lot of pillboxes and other defences have been lost and buried by sea defences e.t.c. Such is life until history is truly historic it's generally seen as a disposable eye sore. Just a good job for all those who do appreciate this that it isn't that cheap or easy to remove..respect and subbed 👍

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated Dan glad you liked it. Definitely agreed, nobody had really studied pillboxes until the early 80s when the seawall was already built.

@danhudson4614 3 жыл бұрын

@@BeyondthePoint @Beyond the Point Yes there's some on the Norfolk coast that went the same way. It is a shame imo but there's a great community of people appreciating these structures now and like you say since the eighties people been documenting, mine clearing e.t.c..I love it ..not everyone's cup of tea but each to their own . I found a undocumented spigot mortar base on a random day trip a couple of years ago ..it literally made my year..I posted it on fb and friends were like yeah..and lol...just don't get it 😂

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

@@danhudson4614 Nice one! Nothing beats making new discoveries locally, we are still finding undocumented stuff even now. Of course its not for everyone, but its still part of the landscape today, and when you consider it affected everyone still within living memory, I'd say it's something we could all learn from!

@davidsirett5560 3 жыл бұрын

i thought there was a pill box down Northwick road near the site of the anti aircraft battery. there used to be a land fill site there back in the 70s when i used to go in the B W Rice skip lorry with my dad i am sure there was one near there.

@peterjohn548 3 жыл бұрын

Hey chaps... I been a silent viewer of your videos for a few years now.. remember your video not too long ago featuring Southend Airport.. I was cycling round that way earlier today and on the new business Park they are building off of cherry orchard there is a pill box that is now within a security fence, I don't understand why.. I did take pictures but can't find yous on the gram.. thought I'd let you know.... well done on ten years 👏

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the message and for watching Peter. I went to that pillbox a few weeks ago, found a barbed wire screw picket there. Shame those fields are all being developed but glad theyve fenced the pillboxes rather than removing them. Its changed a lot since that video. Cheers!

@davidsirett5560 3 жыл бұрын

@@BeyondthePoint that might have been for ammo storage i took a picture of it in 2007

@70sstreetracer 3 жыл бұрын

Went to the Benfleet one 28th February this year on a walk from Bowers Gifford near the church where i parked on a walk to Benfleet station and back.Was serprised how dry the ground was then around by the motorcycle bike track as last time i had been there was November 19 and you could easily slip over. What is the road where the Canvey one is that you went in?

@tescobinbag1001 3 жыл бұрын

Me and my mates put all the seats there and we sit in there and smoke weed lol

@DAFlys 3 жыл бұрын

Is the underground bunker near Morrison’s still about?

@ACSferrari 3 жыл бұрын

The canvey ROC has basically been left over the last few years to deteriorate and I think it might be sealed now, little remains of it to be seen.

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

@@ACSferrari Yeah very sad. We never saw inside, it was capped with concrete about 2007 ish. Still somewhere under there though.

@DavidinEssexUK 3 жыл бұрын

Last time I walked past the benfleet pill box the mud was terrible.

@BeyondthePoint 3 жыл бұрын

Yep! We went round the back near the sewage works

@DavidinEssexUK 3 жыл бұрын

@@BeyondthePoint I don’t blame you. If you come in via the motorbike track it’s terrible although the old animal sanctuary might be worth a drone investigation. In the Summer the field by the sewage works has lots of snakes.