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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:TQ 67 SE 1199
Type of record:Building
Name:Shornemead Fort Second World War pillbox

Summary

Standard concrete Type 24 Second World War pillbox with a rear porch, facing the river Thames and let into the flood defence bank about 280 m. east of Shornemead Fort. It was probably part of the defences of the formerly existing emergency coast defence battery a short distance to the rear. Partly buried, the front three faces of the pillbox are visible and the whole of the top surface of its roof. It probably originated in 1941 and would have been decommissioned by 1945.

Summary from record TQ 67 SE 229:

Pillbox (1940), near Higham Creek


Grid Reference:TQ 6959 7484
Map Sheet:TQ67SE
Parish:SHORNE, GRAVESHAM, KENT

Monument Types

  • PILLBOX (PILLBOX, Modern - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)
  • SITE (Modern - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)
  • PILLBOX (Modern - 1941 AD? to 1945 AD?)
Protected Status:Selected Heritage Inventory for Natural England: Standard concrete Type 24 Second World War pillbox

Full description

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Standard concrete Type 24 Second World war pillbox with a rear porch, facing the river Thames and let into the flood defence bank about 280 m east of Shornemead Fort. It was probably part of the defences of the formerly existing emergency coast defence battery a short distance to the rear. Partly buried, the front three faces of the pillbox are visible and the whole of the top surface of the roof. It probably originated in 1941 and would have been decommissioned by 1945.
Owner : Public
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey : Highly visible on the flood defence bank which is also a public footpath.
Tourism Potential : Lends itself to inclusion in a defence heritage trail.
Condition : moderate
Date of visit : 29/01/07

Description from record TQ 67 SE 229:
On river wall 260m East of Shornemead Fort. Mainly buried. Roof missing. Concrete, facing North across Thames (1), site photographs (2-9). An octagonal pillbox with a small entrance, now mostly buried. (10)


Smith, V.T.C., 28/01/07, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). SKE14027.

Smith, V.T.C., 28/01/07, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). Ske14027.

<1> Victor Smith and Ron Crowdy, Thames Gateway Assesment: Gazetteer of Defence Sites (Index). SKE6445.

<2> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9420.

<3> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9866.

<4> 1942, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10003.

<5> 1944, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10014.

<6> 1941, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10113.

<7> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10271.

<8> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10279.

<9> 1978, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10929.

<10> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report (Unpublished document). SWX12323.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
---Verbal communication: Smith, V.T.C.. 28/01/07. Verbal Communication.
<1>Index: Victor Smith and Ron Crowdy. Thames Gateway Assesment: Gazetteer of Defence Sites.
<2>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 3106. print.
<3>Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 4068. print.
<4>Photograph (Print): 1942. Photograph. 36. print.
<5>Photograph (Print): 1944. Photograph. 3016. print.
<6>Photograph (Print): 1941. Photograph. 2025. print.
<7>Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 161. print.
<8>Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 178. print.
<9>Photograph (Print): 1978. Photograph. TQ6974/2. print.
<10>Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2005. North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report.