Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Two phases of WWII defensive features comprising of slit trenching, accompanying banks, shallow excavated areas beside the trenching, several structures, gun pits and emplacements and barbed wire Located beside the coast at Sandwich Bay and mapped from military aerial photographs.

Monument Types

• BANK (EARTHWORK) (Modern - 1939 AD to 1942 AD)
• BARBED WIRE OBSTRUCTION (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1942 AD)
• MACHINE GUN POST (Modern - 1939 AD to 1942 AD)
• PILLBOX (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• SLIT TRENCH (Modern - 1939 AD to 1942 AD)
• STRUCTURE (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• BARBED WIRE OBSTRUCTION (Modern - 1942 AD to 1945 AD)
• MILITARY BUILDING (Modern - 1943 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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Two phases of WWII coastal defences located beside the beach east of Sandwich, comprising slit trenching, accompanying banks, shallow excavated areas beside the trenching, several structures, gun pits and emplacements and barbed wire. This complex of features is likely to be associated with a defended house that is located at 635578E, 159311N (AMIE number 1428993), around which the features have been constructed.

In the first phase of activity, there is almost 800m of stepped slit trenching and associated banks mainly running perpendicular to the coast, with smaller sections apparent separate to the main area of trenching. Six semi-circular hollowly excavated features are apparent and are either intermingled with the trenching or are located adjacent to it. Three rectangular structures are visible at 635305E 159468N, 635226E 159425N, and 635739E 159181N, and measure 4.5m by 2.5m, 3.5m by 3m, and 5.5m by 3.6m respectively. The last structure is visible on the seaward side of the anti-tank cubes (Mke42015) and is a possible pillbox (AMIE number 1428671). A circular structure, possibly a pillbox is also present and has a diameter of 4.5m. Seven circular gun pits are visible around the site along with one larger gun emplacement with an obvious central pintle. A barbed wire enclosure is also visible surrounding some of the military features and measures 260m, and another partially surrounds the defended house (MWX43292).

These features were mapped from military aerial photographs taken in February 1941 [1]. Most features have been removed/levelled by January 1942 [2] and the remaining features are gone by January 1945 [3].

In the second phase, more barbed wire is added to the site enclosing the defended house and many of the other military features. All the slit trenches and barbed wire respect a road leading to the defended house. These later features are visible by January 1942 [2] and are gone by January 1946 [4].

The position of this complex of features may be slightly inaccurate due to difficulties rectifying the photographs.

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