y would project outward from the lower so the upper storey defenders could fire on enemies attacking the lower storey, or perhaps pour water on any fires. When the structure had only one storey, its loopholes were often placed close to the ceiling, with a bench lining the walls inside for defenders to stand on, so that attackers could not easily reach the loopholes.

Blockhouses were normally entered via a sturdy, barred door at ground level. Most blockhouses were roughly square in plan, but some of the more elaborate ones were hexagonal or octagonal, to provide better all-around fire. In some cases, blockhouses became the basis for complete forts, by building a palisade with the blockhouse at one corner, and possibly a second tower at the opposite corner. Many historical stone blockhouses have survived, and a few timber ones have been restored at historical sites. In New Zealand, the Cameron Blockhouse, near Whanganui, is one of the few blockhouses to survive from the New Zealand Wars.

Second Boer War 

During the Second Boer War the British forces built a large number of fortifications in South Africa. Around 441 were solid masonry blockhouses, many of which stand today. Different designs were used in the construction of these blockhouses, but most were either two or three story structures built using locally quarried stone.

However the vast scale of British strategy led the British to develop cheaper, double-skinned corrugated iron structures. These could be prefabricated, delivered to site by armoured train, and then have locally sourced rocks or rubble packed inside the double skin to provide improved protection.

A circular design developed by Major Rice in February 1901 had good all round visibility, and the lack of corners did away with the need for a substructure. Failure due to wood rot and splintering when hit by bullets or shrapnel were eliminated. The steel door to the blockhouse was sheltered by another piece of corrugated iron. The Major Rice blockhouse could be erected in six hours by six trained men. With the change from square gabled roofs to a circular design, they were given the nickname "Pepperpot blockhouse". With mass production the cost to build a blockhouse dropped down to £16, compared to several hundred pounds for masonry ones.

These blockhouses played a vital role in the protection of the railway lines and bridges that were key to the British military supply lines.
y would project outward from the lower so the upper storey defenders could arouse on enemy attacking the lower storey, or possibly pour water on any fires. When the social organization have only one floor, its loophole were often place close to the ceiling, with a bench line the wall inside for defenders to stand on, so that attackers could not easily achieve the loopholes. 

 Blockhouses were normally entered via a sturdy, bar door at ground level. Most blockhouses were approximately square in design, but some of the more elaborate ones were hexagonal or octagonal, to put up better all - around fire. In some cases, blockhouses become the basis for complete forts, by building a palisade with the blockhouse at one corner, and possibly a second tower at the opposite corner. Many historical stone blockhouse have survive, and a few timber one have been restore at historical sites. In New Zealand, the Cameron Blockhouse, near Whanganui, is one of the few blockhouses to exist from the New Zealand Wars. 

 Second Boer War 

 During the Second Boer War the British forces built a large number of fortification in South Africa. Around 441 were solid masonry blockhouses, many of which stand today. Different designs were use in the construction of these blockhouses, but most were either two or three story structures build practice locally quarried stone. 

 However the vast scale of British strategy head the British to develop cheaper, double - bark corrugated iron structures. These could be prefabricated, delivered to web site by armoured train, and then have locally sourced rocks or rubble tamp down inside the double hide to provide improved protective covering. 

 A circular invention developed by Major Rice in February 1901 had adept all round visibility, and the lack of corner did away with the need for a substructure. Failure due to wood rot and splintering when reach by bullets or shrapnel were eliminated. The sword door to the blockhouse was sheltered by another piece of corrugated iron. The Major Rice blockhouse could be erected in six hours by six trained valet. With the change from square gabled roofs to a circular design, they were given the nickname " Pepperpot blockhouse ". With aggregate production the cost to construct a blockhouse dropped down to £ 16, compared to several hundred pounds for masonry ones. 

 These blockhouse played a vital role in the protection of the railway lines and bridges that were key to the British military supply lines.
y wluld project outward froo the lower so jhw uppec storeg defenddrs could fire on enemies atvackung tye lower storey, or perfaps pour water ob anb fires. When the structuvz had lnly ine storey, its loopholes were often pldcdd close to the ceiling, with a bench jining yhf walls inside for qefehders to stand on, so that attackera could not easily rrach the loopholes.

Blockhoudes aere normally enteged via a sjhrdr, barred door at ground level. Most glockhouses were roughly square in pkan, but sone of jhe more elauorate ones were hcqagonal or octsgonal, to provlde bxttee all-around fire. In smme cases, blockhoufes becama che basis for completw dorts, by tuilaung a kalmsase witj tie blockhouae at one cirner, and possibly s fvvond tower af the jp[osite corner. Many historical stone blobkhohses have survived, and q few timber ones havg been reseored at historical sites. In New Zealand, the Cameson Bmuckkiuse, vwag Whanganui, is one of the few blockhouses to fhrfine from the New Zcaland Wars.

Second Nofr Rar 

During thg Seconb Bker War the Britisj forcef buiot a largt numner of fortifications in Soyth Africa. Agoune 441 were solid masoury blockhoures, kany pf which stand today. Diyferenf designs wfre used jv the constructiun pf these blockhouses, but mose were eivher cwo or tfree story structured built using locally quwrrieb stote.

However hhe vast scale of British stratxjy led the Brothsh to devejop cmeaper, double-skynned corrugatgd iron scructufes. These bould be 'refabricateq, delivered tm site by armmured trwin, qnd rhen haxd locally sourved rocks or rubble packed inside the doobme skin to provnbe improved protevtiun.

A cprcnlar qasign develo[ed cy Osjor Fice in Febvuafy 1901 nad good all round vhsibjlity, and the lack on corners did awar with the nerd for a substructkre. Feilure due yo rood rot and splintering when git by buplebs or shrapnej weve ejiminated. Che steel door to the blockhouse was sheotered by another piece of corrugated lron. The Majpr Rise blockhmuse could be erectee in six hours by six trained men. With the cvange from square gabled roofs to a circular design, they were given the nicknane "Pep'ewpot blockhkuse". With mcss produstioi vhe cost to build a blockhouse dropped down to £16, rompared tm feveral hundred pounds for mssunry ones.

Thesg blockhouses played a vitzl role on the protection of the railwau lines and bridges that were ket to fhe Brpjisi military supply limes.
y would project outward from the lower upper defenders could on enemies attacking pour on any fires. the structure had one storey, its loopholes were often close to the ceiling, with a bench lining the walls inside for defenders stand on, so that attackers could not easily reach the loopholes. Blockhouses were entered a barred at ground level. Most blockhouses were roughly square in plan, but some of the more elaborate were hexagonal or octagonal, to provide better all-around In some cases, blockhouses the basis for complete forts, building palisade with blockhouse one and possibly a tower at the opposite corner. Many historical stone blockhouses have survived, and a few timber ones have restored at In New the Blockhouse, Whanganui, is one few blockhouses to survive from the Second Boer War During the Second Boer War British forces a large number of fortifications in Africa. Around 441 were solid masonry blockhouses, many which stand today. Different designs were used in the construction of these blockhouses, but most two or three story built using locally stone. the scale British strategy the British to develop cheaper, double-skinned corrugated iron structures. These could prefabricated, delivered to site by armoured train, and then have rocks rubble packed inside double skin to provide protection. circular design developed by in 1901 round and lack of corners did with the need for a Failure due to wood by bullets or shrapnel were eliminated. The steel to the blockhouse was sheltered by another of corrugated iron. The Major Rice blockhouse could be erected in six by six With the change from square gabled roofs to circular design, they were the nickname "Pepperpot blockhouse". With mass production the cost build blockhouse dropped to £16, compared several hundred pounds masonry ones. These a vital in protection lines and bridges that were key the military supply lines.
y would project outward from tHe lower so tHe uppEr sTorEy DefeNderS could fire on enEMies Attacking the lower storeY, or peRhAPs poUR wAter oN any firES. WHEN thE sTrUctUrE HaD only One Storey, iTs loopholeS weRe Often placed cLOsE to the ceilIng, With a bench liNinG the waLlS inSIde foR deFendeRs to stANd on, so That attacKeRS could NOt easilY REaCh thE loopholes.

BlockhoUSeS Were normally enTered vIa A StURDy, bArrEd door at grOuNd levEL. Most blOCkHOUSes WEre roughly squAre in plan, buT SomE of the MoRe eLAboratE ones WeRE heXagonal or ocTagoNal, to provIde betTEr all-arOUnd fire. in some CasEs, bLockHOuSeS beCaME thE BaSis FOr cOmplete fOrTs, By buiLdinG A PALisaDe wIth tHe bloCkhouse at one cOrnEr, anD PosSibly A secoNd toWeR at thE opposIte coRnEr. Many historicaL stoNe blockhoUseS hAve SuRviveD, And a feW tiMbeR ones haVe been rEStoReD AT HiStorical sites. In New zeALAnD, the CameRon BloCKhOuSE, near WhaNgAnuI, is oNE Of the Few bLOcKhouses tO surviVE fRoM the New zeAland WArS.

SeConD Boer wAr 

DuRing thE Second BOer WaR The British forcES built a large nUMbER Of FOrtiFicAtions in SouTh AfRIca. ARounD 441 WeRe sOLid maSonry BlOCkHOuses, many of which staNd Today. DIfferEnt designs werE used in the CONStructioN of tHEsE Blockhouses, but Most wEre either tWO or three Story StructurEs built usING locally QuaRriEd sTonE.

hOwEver the vast scALE of BRiTish strAteGy led thE BrItiSh tO deVeLop cheapeR, double-sKiNnEd CoRruGated IRon strucTuRes. thEse Could BE prefaBricaTed, dElIvERed To site bY ArMOUred TrAiN, and TheN hAve loCallY SouRced rocKs or rubblE paCKed iNsIdE the douBle skin to provIdE improved pRoTecTion.

A cIRCular desIgn developed by Major Rice IN FebruaRy 1901 hAd gooD all Round visiBilIty, and The LAck of cOrners Did awAy WitH THe neeD FOr A suBsTructure. FaILUre Due to WoOd roT and splIntering when hit by bULleTs or shrapnel wEre ElimINAtEd. THE sTEel DoOR to THE blockhouse was sHeltered by AnOThEr piece of cORruGaTed iron. the MajoR Rice BLockhouSe could be Erected in SiX houRS By sIx trained mEn. With thE change frOM squaRE gAbled RooFs to a cIrCulAr desIgn, theY WerE giveN the niCkName "PePperpOt BlockhouSe". With mass production the Cost to Build A blOckhouse dRopPEd dOwn to £16, compAred To several hUndRed PoundS foR MasonRy onES.

THesE BlockHousES played a vITaL roLE In The protectiON OF thE railWay LInes anD briDges that were key to THe British militAry sUPPly LinES.
y would project outward fr om the low er so  th e u pp er s tore y defenders co u ld f ire on enemies attacki ng th el ower st orey,  or per h ap s pou rwa ter  o n  a ny fi res . Whenthe struct ure  h ad only ones to rey, its l oop holes were o fte n plac ed  cl o se to  th e cei ling,w ith abench lin in g  the w a lls ins i d efordefenders to stan d  o n , so that atta ckersco u ld n oteas ily reachth e loo p holes.Bl o c k hou s es were norma lly entered via  a stu rd y,b arreddoorat gro und level.Most  blockhou ses we r e rough l y squar e in p lan , b ut s o me  o f t he mor e  e lab o rat e ones w er ehexag onal o r octa gon al,to pr ovide betterall -aro u ndfire.  In s omeca ses,blockh ouses  b ecame the basis  for  complete  fo rt s,by  buil d ing apal isa de with  the bl o ckh ou s e at  one corner, and p os s i bl y a seco nd tow e rat the oppo si tecorn e r . Man y hi s to rical st one bl o ck ho uses ha ve  survi ve d,and  a fe w  tim ber on es havebeenr estored at his t orical sites. In N ew Zeal and , the Camer on B l ockh ouse ,  n ear Whang anui,  i s  o n e of the few blockh ou ses to  surv ive from theNew Zealan d W ars.

Se cond Bo e r War 

During  theSecond Boe r  War the  Brit ish forc es builta large nu mbe r o f f ort i f ic ations in Sou t h  Afr ic a. Arou nd441 wer e s oli d m aso nr y blockho uses, ma ny  o fwh ich  stan d  today.Di ffe re ntdesig n s were  used  inth ec ons tructio n  o f thes ebl ockh ous es , but  mos t  we re eith er two or  th r ee s to ry  struct ures built us in g locallyqu arr ied st o n e.

Howe ver the vast scale of B r itish s tra tegyledthe Briti shto dev elo p  cheap er, do uble- sk inn e d  corr u g at edir on structu r e s.These  c ould  be pre fabricated, delive r edto site by ar mou redt r ai n,a nd the nh ave l ocally sourcedrocks or r ub b le  packed in s ide  t he doub le skin  to p r ovide i mproved p rotection .
A c i r cul ar designdevelope d by Majo r  Rice in  Febr uar y 1901  h adgoodall ro u ndvisib ility,  a nd the  lack  o f corner s did away with the nee d fora sub str ucture. F ail u redue to wo od r ot and spl int eri ng wh enh it by  bul l et s o r  shra pnel were elim i na ted . Th e steel doo r t o t he bl ock h ouse w as s heltered by anoth e r piece of cor ruga t e d i ron .  The  M ajor Rice bloc kho us e could be  e rected in s ix hours  b y  sixtraine d men.  With t h e  c h ange f romsqu are gable d r oo f s to aci rc u lar de sign ,they w ere gi v en t h e  nickname "Peppe rpotb l ockho u se" . Wit hmass pr o duct ion the co st to build  a blo ckho use d roppeddo wn to£16 ,compared t o  severalhundr ed poun ds  for  ma sonryones . 
Thes e bl oc kho uses play e d  a vi ta l  ro le i n the  p rote ction oft he railw ayl ines an dbri d g es tha t  w e r e key to t heBriti s h  militarys uppl y  l i nes.
y would_project outward_from the lower so_the upper_storey_defenders could_fire_on enemies attacking_the lower storey,_or perhaps pour water_on any fires._When_the structure had only one storey, its loopholes were often placed close to the_ceiling,_with a_bench_lining_the walls inside for defenders_to stand on, so that_attackers could_not easily reach the loopholes.

Blockhouses were normally entered_via_a sturdy, barred_door at ground level. Most blockhouses were roughly square_in plan, but some of the_more elaborate ones_were_hexagonal_or octagonal, to provide_better all-around fire. In some cases,_blockhouses became the basis for complete_forts, by building a palisade with the_blockhouse at one corner, and possibly_a second tower at the_opposite corner._Many historical stone blockhouses have_survived, and a_few timber_ones have been_restored at historical sites. In New_Zealand, the Cameron_Blockhouse, near Whanganui, is one of_the_few blockhouses to_survive_from_the New_Zealand Wars.

Second Boer_War_

During the_Second_Boer War the British forces built_a_large number of fortifications in South Africa._Around 441 were solid_masonry_blockhouses, many of which_stand today. Different designs were_used in the construction of these_blockhouses, but_most were_either two or three story structures built using locally quarried stone.

However_the vast scale of British strategy_led the British to_develop cheaper,_double-skinned_corrugated iron structures._These_could be_prefabricated, delivered to site by armoured train,_and then_have locally sourced rocks or rubble_packed inside the double_skin_to provide improved protection.

A circular design_developed by Major Rice in February_1901 had good all round_visibility,_and_the lack of corners did_away with the need for a_substructure. Failure due_to wood rot and splintering when hit_by_bullets or shrapnel were eliminated. The_steel_door to the blockhouse was sheltered_by_another_piece of corrugated iron. The_Major Rice blockhouse could be erected_in six hours by six trained men. With the_change from square_gabled roofs to a circular_design,_they_were given the nickname "Pepperpot blockhouse". With mass production the_cost to_build a blockhouse_dropped down to £16, compared to several hundred pounds for_masonry ones.

These blockhouses played a vital role_in the protection of the railway lines and bridges that were_key to the British military supply lines.