Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The rear face of No.1 is of brick in Flemish Bond with a shell mortar, incorporating four embrasures, with a large gritstone block on the parapet at each side. They are blocked with concrete and are shown, disused on a plan of 1899. Three ammunition lockers, each with stone jambs and lintels, are set into the parapet. There are traces in the concrete of the two 6 pounder QF emplacements at the eastern end of the Line, and scarps in the grass to the north indicate another two embraces. Traces of a side arms store remain, but the western 6 pounder.

Monument Types

• FORTIFICATION (Altered 19th & 20th centuries, Post Medieval to Modern - 1699 AD? to 2050 AD (between))
• LOOPHOLED WALL (Abandoned, Post Medieval to Modern - 1699 AD? to 2050 AD (between))
• COAST ARTILLERY SEARCHLIGHT (Demolished, Post Medieval to Modern - 1890 AD? to 1939 AD? (at some time))
• GUN EMPLACEMENT (Abandoned, Post Medieval to Modern - 1899 AD? to 2050 AD? (at some time))

Full description

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

Part of the northern defences of Sheerness Dockyard forming the Indented Lines. Construction began at the turn of the 17th/18th century. No.1 was originally called Dial Line and Craigs Battery but this was changed around 1838. The orginal armement is not recorded, No.1 incorporates four embrasures but at the end of the 19th century it had two 6 pdr QF (quick firing) emplacements. Later alterations were made in the 20th century.

The rear face of No.1 is of brick in Flemish Bond with a shell mortar, incorporating four embrasures, with a large gritstone block on the parapet at each side. They are blocked with concrete and are shown, disused on a plan of 1899. Three ammunition lockers, each with stone jambs and lintels, are set into the parapet. There are traces in the concrete of the two 6 pdr QF emplacements at the eastern end of the Line, and scarps in the grass to the north indicate another two embraces. Traces of a side arms store remain, but the western 6 pdr emplacement has been destroyed by a modern building. The other 6 pdr QF emplacement is relatively well preserved with steps, a semi-circular gun holdfast and a recess to the east. A musketry banquette, which turns the corner of the Lines provided infantry enfilading fire eastward. Which is close to the site of a Defence Electric Light searchlight emplacement in 1899. (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

Related records