Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

There was a Second World War road block obliquely across the north-east end of Martyrs Field Road, near where it meets Gordon Road. This was probably part of the Outer Perimeter defences of the Canterbury Fortress, and perhaps part of the locality defences of the East Station Goods Yard, which was a Canterbury Fortress Defended Locality.

Monument Types

• ROADBLOCK (Modern - 1941 AD? to 1945 AD?)

Full description

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There was a Second World War road block obliquely across the north-east end of Martyrs Field Road, near where it meets Gordon Road. In immediate post-war aerial photographs, two pairs of rows of sockets can be seen, crossing the road on an oblique course between the buildings standing to either side of the junction the junction. This was probably part of the Outer Perimeter defences of the Canterbury Fortress, and perhaps part of the locality defences of the East Station Goods Yard, which was a Defended Locality under the Canterbury Fortress Defence Schemes. This roadblock is not marked on the Canterbury Fortress Defence Scheme of September 1941, but by the end of the year a large battery of fougasses had been installed immediately in front of the block, suggesting this was considered quite an important approach.
Owner : Public
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : Destroyed
Date of visit :

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/42, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1942 (Unpublished document). SKE15487.

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/42, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1942 (Unpublished document). Ske15487.

Sources and further reading