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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 97 NW 113
Type of record:Monument
Name:The Indented Lines, Sheerness

Summary

The Indented Lines preserve the only visible remains of the de Gomme works of 1669, when they formed the north-eastern side of the Sheerness Fort defences on the tip of the Sheerness peninsula. Originally called Gunners Battery, Dial Line and Long Lines they were renamed the Indented Lines after 1838. The Indented and Sheerness Lines (TQ 97 NW 109) were linked in 1827 with the construction of a sea wall between Minster Bastion on the Indented Lines and No.1 Bastion on the Sheerness lines and moated by 1848. Abandoned 1956.


Grid Reference:TQ 91014 75512
Map Sheet:TQ97NW
Parish:SHEERNESS, SWALE, KENT

Monument Types

  • FORTIFICATION (Altered 19th & 20th centuries, Post Medieval to Modern - 1699 AD to 2050 AD (between))
Protected Status:Scheduled Monument 1005145: Sheerness Defences

Full description

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References regarding the relation of the site to other defence sites. (1-4).

The Indented Lines preserve the only visible remains of the de Gomme works of 1669, when they formed the north-eastern side of the Sheerness Fort defences on the tip of the Sheerness peninsula. Originally called Gunners Battery, Dial Line and Long Lines they were renamed the Indented Lines after 1838. The Indented and Sheerness Lines (TQ 97 NW 109) were linked in 1827 with the construction of a sea wall between Minster Bastion on the Indented Lines and No.1 Bastion on the Sheerness lines and moated by 1848. By 1899 the Indented Lines mounted two 6 pdrs and twqo 12 pdr quick firers (QF's) around the same time that Albemarle Battery with four 12 pdr QF's. was built even though it was proposed in 1828. Two guns were still in operation in 1940 and a machine gun emplacement was built on the shore immediately north of its eastern QF emplacement by 1923. Abandoned in 1956.

The 17th century fabric of the Indented Lines is still visible in the lower part of the seaward face, composed of stone rubble and brick faced with Kentish Rag ashlar. It has a heavy cordon and at the angles of the lines, two moulded corbels in Portland Stone which originally supported bartizans. (5)

From the National Heritage List for England:
17th Century Defences: surviving portion of late 17th century fortifications designed by Sir Bernard de Gomme. Stretch if indented trace east of Garrison Point Fort. Largely faced in Portland ashlar to cordon. The brick parapet is later and together with the rampart had been remodelled and mutilated by 19th century gun positions. At three angles are moulded corbels which carried sentry boxes.


<1> Sheerness Defences, Garrison Point Fort and the Indented Lines/ink survey (Graphic material). SKE6431.

<2> Sheerness Defences, Garrison Point Fort and the Indented Lines/overlay (Graphic material). SKE6432.

<3> Sheerness Defences, the Indented Lines (Bibliographic reference). SKE6439.

<4> RCHME: Sheerness Defences, Kent (Collection). SKE6533.

<5> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England, 1995, Sheerness: The Dockyard, Defences and Blue Town (Unpublished document). SWX6974.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Graphic material: Sheerness Defences, Garrison Point Fort and the Indented Lines/ink survey. PER. PEN.
<2>Graphic material: Sheerness Defences, Garrison Point Fort and the Indented Lines/overlay. PER. PEN.
<3>Bibliographic reference: Sheerness Defences, the Indented Lines. PAP. TYP.
<4>Collection: RCHME: Sheerness Defences, Kent.
<5>Unpublished document: Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England. 1995. Sheerness: The Dockyard, Defences and Blue Town.

Related records

TQ 97 NW 117Parent of: Albemarle Battery, Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 114Parent of: Indented Line no 1 (Dial Line/Craig Battery), Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 116Parent of: Indented Line No 3, Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 115Parent of: Indented Line No.2 (The Long Lines & Saluting Battery), Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 109Parent of: The Sheerness Lines (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 3Part of: Sheerness defences (Monument)