TESTON BRIDGE WW2 DEFENCES

These long abandoned Pillboxes are a small part of Britains defence network, designed to slow down the invading German army during WW2. There were all connected by telephone and communicated the enemies advance on it's way to the Capital., while slowing them down and disrupting their movement as much as possible. This group of 6 were to guard the River Medway which is navigable from the North Sea, and would have been an easy way in for the enemy in their Fast Patrol Boats or Motor Torpedo Boats. The main road and Railway were also defended from this point as well. During the War every single Pillbox had its own individual task to perform and would have controlled the movement of enemy Tanks and Infantry, funneling them into a killing zone where they could be dealt with more effectively.They all seem very peaceful today, but once rang to the sound of heavy bombing as the enemy blitzed the industry and town of Maidstone. The Bridge and surrounding area featured in the 1958 film Dunkirk, starring John Mills. The bridge itself has a very long history that tells of when King Richard II's men crossed here to quash the Peasants revolt by Wat Tyler in 1381.