It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.
Monument details
| HER Number: | TR 36 NE 461 |
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| Type of record: | Monument |
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| Name: | Chalk tunnel, possibly of military construction, in the gardens og 63 and 61, High Street, St Peters |
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Summary
A chalk tunnel exists beneath the gardens of 61, 63 and 65 High Street, St Peters. The date of construction is unknown but graffiti and a brick wall suggests that it may have been a practice tunnel constructed in the First World War.
| Grid Reference: | TR 38318 68333 |
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| Map Sheet: | TR36NE |
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| Parish: | BROADSTAIRS AND ST PETERS, THANET, KENT |
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Monument Types
- TUNNEL (Modern - 1914 AD? to 1945 AD?)
Full description
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In February 2001 a subsidence in the front garden of 63 High Street, St Peters revealed a chalk tunnel that extended into the neighbouring gardens of 61 and 65 High Street. Members of the Kent Underground Research Group visited the site and explored the tunnel. The roof of the tunnel lay 4.2 m below the surface which was c. 3 m high and 3 - 4 m wide. A brick wall, apparently containing military loopholes had been built up to roof height across one part of the tunnel which also contained cross passages and adits. Numerous bits of grafitti indicate that the tunnels were used during both World Wars but no purpose was apparent. The researchers therefore suggested that they may have been built as practice tunnels for sappers before leaving for France in the First World War (1).
<1> Kent Underground Research Group, 2001, Caves and Tunnels in South East England Part 15 (Unpublished document). SKE8205.
Sources and further reading
| Cross-ref.
| Source description | | <1> | Unpublished document: Kent Underground Research Group. 2001. Caves and Tunnels in South East England Part 15. |
