9. Chilworth and the Wars

In the fields around Chilworth and within the estate and vineyard itself, you will see several concrete Pillboxes. These were constructed early in the Second World War. In 1940 when it seemed that Hitler would invade England, several defensive lines were established across the south of England to delay the German invasion. Despite the invasion never taking place, one of the walls in the Duchess Garden was struck and damaged by a ‘Doodlebug’, a type of bomb dropped by the Germans.

Pillboxes were built to provide defending troops a platform from which to fire at German invaders when they were forced around natural anti-tank obstacles such as hills and rivers. They are built across The Guildford Gap, a narrow opening in the North Downs. The Pillboxes formed the last defensible position to repel a German assault on London.

Inside a few of these Pillboxes, you can still see the names of the troops on guard duty inscribed on the walls. During the war, Chilworth Manor itself was occupied by the Canadian Army’s Intelligence Corps. Their legacy is visible to this day in the form of a spinney of trees planted by the soldiers that now gives shelter to Chilworth’s herd of Alpaca!

 

Inside a Pillbox, the small holes are designed for British soldiers to shoot from

 

For Children: 

Did you know WW2 started on 1st September 1939 and ended on 2nd September 1945 and therefore lasted exactly 6 years and 1 day. 

Q: Are you older or younger than the length of the war? By how much? 

 

 

Lieutenant John Woodhouse leads the Surreys' Battle Patrol

 

Navigation: 

Continue along the path for another 120m keeping the vines on your right until you reach the next stop where you will learn about the wildlife that reside in Chilworth.