Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

This feature is recorded in the English Heritage report on the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula. This feature comprises a section of the line of the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula, north and west of Buckland Farm, Higham Marshes.

Monument Types

• ANTI TANK DITCH (Modern - 1940 AD to 2050 AD)
• STOP LINE (Modern - 1940 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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This section of the Second World War Stop Line is recorded in the English Heritage report on the Stop Line. The report states:" Cliffe Quarries to the south bank of the River Thames, NRHE 1418715, 1418664. The quarries for the cement works at Cliffe, were used as part of the stop line to the north and west of Buckland Farm. Eighteen anti-tank blocks of a moveable type were positioned near West Court Farm, Cliffe at TQ 724 756 (Defence of Britain Project, accessed via Archaeology Data Service) but were not seen on aerial photographs. An anti-tank ditch and other features were constructed at the western end of the stop line to bridge the gap between the quarries and the Thames estuary. This final section of the stop line was formed by widening and deepening a drainage ditch (TQ 7120 7586) for 420m from the quarry to the sea wall. Six concrete anti-tank pillars were placed across the sea wall to the River Thames. One pillar has names inscribed in concrete, 'F.C. Gomar', 'S. Bernard', 'R. Lucas', (Defence of Britain Project, accessed via Archaeology Data Service).
Condition: The anti-tank blocks at West Court Farm, identified on the ground by the Defence of Britain project, require a site visit. Recent aerial photographs (Google Earth 2013) show a large section of anti-tank ditch was quarried away but the pillbox and concrete pillars are in place." (1)

Description from record TQ 77 NW 128:
Anti tank ditch on Higham Creek, partially visible on 2012 aerial photographs, very visible on 1946 aerial photographs. Associated with anti invasion obstacles at western end of ditch and pillbox to the south.

See (2-4) photography.

Survey (5).

<1> historic england, 2014, Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes. Research Report 9-2014. (Bibliographic reference). SKE31599.

<2> RAF, 11/10/46, Aerial photograph of Higham Marshes and Cliffe Marshes (Photograph). SKE13912.

<3> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9858.

<4> 1941, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10111.

<5> 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

Related records