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Monument details

HER Number:TR 26 NW 1173
Type of record:Monument
Name:Second World War road-block (bridge demolition) on the Thanet Way Bridge over the River Wantsum near Gray’s Farm, Chislet

Summary

There was a major Second World War roadblock at the point where the newly built Thanet Way crossed the River Wantsum. This was part of a Grid Line based on the Rivers Wantsum and Stour between Reculver and Richborough. The bridge was prepared for demolition early in 1940. A defended locality was established around the bridge, which was was covered by a pillbox to the west and two anti-tank gun emplacements on the south side of the road.


Grid Reference:TR 2361 6761
Map Sheet:TR26NW
Parish:ST NICHOLAS AT WADE, THANET, KENT

Monument Types

  • ROADBLOCK (Modern - 1940 AD to 1945 AD?)

Full description

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There was a major Second World War roadblock at the point where the newly built Thanet Way crossed the River Wantsum. (This was not a very bridge-like bridge, hence its description, in May 1941, as the ‘road over [the] river’) This was one of a number of bridges known collectively as the ‘Thanet Bridges’ – along a defensive Grid Line based on the Rivers Wantsum and Stour between Reculver and Richborough. It was based on the prepared demolition of the bridge at this point - to be detonated in the event of an invasion. Somewhat confusingly this bridge was sometimes known as the ‘Grays Farm’ bridge (there was another (secondary?) roadblock on another bridge on the Thanet Way further west, nearer Grays Farm). The bridge was prepared for demolition by the Royal Engineers early in 1940. Explosive charges were put in place, but detonators and firing circuits were only to be placed on ‘Action Stations.’ A section of the 220 Field Company Royal Engineers was to provide a demolition party. In mid May, ‘Z’ Company of the 8 Royal Fusiliers were ordered to establish a defended locality, ‘with all round defence’, to defend the bridge. Roadblock materials were held in readiness trenches dug, and other defences were contrived with wire, sandbags and other materials. The fusiliers were instructed that ‘digging [might] take place anywhere and property owners who objected [might] be informed that compensation [would] be paid if possible. It was ordered that ‘under no circumstance whatever [should] the enemy be allowed to capture the bridges intact.’ The bridge was covered by a pillbox a little to the west and two anti-tank gun emplacements on the south side of the road.
Owner : Public
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :


CBA Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SKE15359.

CBA Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). Ske15359.

8 Royal Fusiliers 1940, 01/01/40, War Diary 8 Royal Fusiliers 1940 (Unpublished document). SKE15356.

8 Royal Fusiliers 1940, 01/01/40, War Diary 8 Royal Fusiliers 1940 (Unpublished document). Ske15356.

43 Division General Staff, 01/01/41, War Diary 43 Division General Staff (Unpublished document). SKE15358.

43 Division General Staff, 01/01/41, War Diary 43 Division General Staff (Unpublished document). Ske15358.

49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment, 01/01/41, War Diary 49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment 1941 (Unpublished document). SKE15357.

49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment, 01/01/41, War Diary 49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment 1941 (Unpublished document). Ske15357.

Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division, 01/01/41, War Diary Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division 1941 (Unpublished document). SKE15355.

Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division, 01/01/41, War Diary Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division 1941 (Unpublished document). Ske15355.

198 Infantry Brigade, 1940, War Diary 198 Infantry Brigade WO166/1051 October 1940 (Unpublished document). SKE31619.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
---Unpublished document: Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division. 01/01/41. War Diary Corps Royal Engineers 44 Division 1941.
---Unpublished document: 8 Royal Fusiliers 1940. 01/01/40. War Diary 8 Royal Fusiliers 1940.
---Unpublished document: 49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment. 01/01/41. War Diary 49 Battalion Royal Tanks Regiment 1941.
---Unpublished document: 43 Division General Staff. 01/01/41. War Diary 43 Division General Staff.
---Digital archive: CBA Defence of Britain Project.
---Unpublished document: 198 Infantry Brigade. 1940. War Diary 198 Infantry Brigade WO166/1051 October 1940.