Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Second World War coastal battery.

Summary from record 1416952:

A Second World War artillery battery at Capel was built between 1941 and 1942 and manned by 520 Coast Regiment Royal Artillery. The battery mounted three eight-inch coastal guns. Aerial photographs show all but one of the buildings on the site have been demolished on aerial photographs taken in 1966. Cropmarks and earthworks are visible on aerial photographs taken in 2007, several underground structures survive, and the eastern side of the site has been remodelled into the Battle of Britain memorial. This site has been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey NMP (Component 2).

Monument Types

• BARBED WIRE OBSTRUCTION (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• BERM (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• BLAST WALL (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• COASTAL BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• GUN EMPLACEMENT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• MILITARY BUILDING (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• NISSEN HUT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• OBSERVATION POST (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• ROAD (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• COASTAL BATTERY (Modern - 1942 AD to 1947 AD)

Full description

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This Battery consisted of three gun emplacements with overhead cover. The magazines were deep underground behind the gun emplacement with lifts to supply the ammunition. There were engine rooms and a domestic camp site near by with observation post on the cliff edge. The Battery Plotting Room was not far from the gun emplacements. Also near by was a deep shelter. All that remains to be seen of this battery some concrete roads, the three mounds where the gun emplacements are and a Fortress Observation Post on the cliff path towards Folkestone. The guns were installed in May 1942 and were probably removed soon after the end of the Second World War
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : Destroyed
Date of visit : 07/05/07
(1)

In 2012 Canterbury Archaeological Trust carried out an evaluation. Power cables relating to the battery were located to the north of the site.

The battery was armed with three 8 inch guns, each with a magazine and controlled from an underground command room. The crews were accommodated on site, to the west of the emplacements. The battery was constructed between April 1941 and June 1942. It was manned from December 1942 by 424 Coast Defence, Royal Artillery. The battery was placed into 'care and maintenance' status by June 1944. The guns were removed in 1947. (2)

Description from record 1416952:
Site of Capel Battery. Various roads, tracks and hut bases still extant. Battle of Britain Memorial occupies part of site.

Capel Battery. 3 x 8in guns.

Site of Capel Battery. Various military roads, tracks, hut bases, etc. still extant. Battle of Britain memorial occupies part of site. Destroyed No.1 Gun coastal battery. Three gun emplacements remain (buried) and may be in reasonable condition. Remaining buildings have now gone bar one small ancillary structure 400-500m SW of battery at cliff edge. [Information from 1979 aerial photographs].

On the seaward side of the B2011 road near Capel-le-Fern(3)

Capel Battery located at TR 2442 3801. The battery was commissioned in June 1942 and was armed with three 8-inch guns. The three gun emplacements were located at TR 2442 3801, TR 2453 3805 and TR 2463 3809. The position finder was at TR 2416 3774, the plotting room at TR 2431 3798 and radar (B4) positioned at TR 2490 3821. (4-5)

Aerial photography from 1979 shows that the three gun emplacements are buried and may be reasonable condition. The buildings have gone, except one small ancillary structure located 500 metres south-west of the battery at the cliff edge. (6)

The Battle of Britain Memorial website shows photographs of Capel Battery under construction in 1941. (7)

According to this website, several underground structures remain at Capel Battery including a dressing station/shelter, Battery Plotting Room and magazines. (8)

This article about the Capel Battery includes images of the look-out post and tunnels which still exist at the site. It was to be sold at auction on 21 September 2009. (9)

A Second World War artillery battery at Capel was built between 1941 and 1942 and manned by 520 Coast Regiment Royal Artillery. The battery mounted three eight-inch coastal guns. Aerial photographs show all but one of the buildings on the site have been demolished on aerial photographs taken in 1966. Cropmarks and earthworks are visible on aerial photographs taken in 2007, several underground structures survive, and the eastern side of the site has been remodelled into the Battle of Britain memorial. The site as a whole is centred on TR 2437 3801 and extends over an area which measures 635 metres SW-NE and 150 metres SE-NW. This site has been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey NMP (Component 2).

Aerial photographs taken in 1942 and 1945 show an extensive site, with probable barracks indicated by Nissen huts, roads, hard standings and circa 19 military buildings. The domestic side of the site is sheltered by a large berm extending along the seaward side, and the whole site is surrounded by barbed wire obstructions. A group of associated observation posts are visible on the southwestern side of the battery, at TR 2418 3777, TR 2415 3774, TR 2413 3770 and TR 2431 3771. Two of these are surrounded by blast walls. The OP at TR 2413 3770 is still extant on aerial photographs taken in 2007 (10-12).

C. Dobson, 2000, Twentieth century fortifications in England: Coast Artillery 1900-1956 (Monograph). SKE52187.

<1> CBA Defence of Britain Project, 1994, Defence of Britain Site Report, Pers. Comm. David Burridge, KDRG/PSG/FSG (Bibliographic reference). SKE6447.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2012, Report on evaluation trenching at the Battle of Britain Memorial site, Capel-le-Ferne (Unpublished document). SKE18006.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2002/6, Defence of Kent database (Digital archive). SWX23603.

<4> Dobinson, C., 2000, Twentieth century fortifications in England. Volume 6.1. Coast Artillery, 1900-1956, 6.1 pp 152-161 (Monograph). SWX23710.

<5> Dobinson, C., 2000, Twentieth century fortifications in England. Volume 6.2. Coast Artillery, 1900-1956, 6.2 pp 250 (Monograph). SWX23711.

<6> ?, Twentieth century military recording project: World War Two Coastal Batteries, pp 90 (Unspecified Type). SWX23712.

<7> The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. Construction of Capel Battery Site - 1942 (Website). SWX23997.

<8> Colin G., 2006, Subterranean History: Capel and Folkestone Batteries (Website). SWX23984.

<9> BBC, Wartime tunnels to be auctioned (Website). SWX23983.

<10> RAF, 1942, NMR RAF/HLA/549 6031-6032 01-JUN-1942 (Photograph). SWX23943.

<11> RAF, 1945, NMR RAF/106G/UK/541 3007-3008 24-JUL-1945 (Photograph). SWX23828.

<12> RAF, 1966, NMR RAF/V58/7170 0152-0153 06-JAN-1966 (Photograph). SWX23947.

Sources and further reading