Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A Second World War emergency coastal battery previously noted from documentary sources is visible on aerial photographs of 1942 as structures near the Pumping Station at St Marys Bay. These features were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South East RCZAS NMP project.

Monument Types

• COASTAL BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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St Mary's Bay coastal battery located at TR 0905 2725. This was an emergency battery built during the Second World War as part of Eastern Command's coastal defences. The battery was operational by 1942 and mounted two 6-inch guns. It was manned by 358 Battery of 551 Coast Regiment. (1)

Aerial photography from 1977 shows that the site is occupied by housing and open space areas and no features of the battery remain. (2)

St Mary's Bay battery was built close to New Romney battery (located at TR 091 273). St Mary's Bay battery is referenced in use from 1942 and may have been a replacement for New Romney battery, which is only referenced as being in use during 1940.

Structures which are likely to have comprised the St Marys Bay Coastal Battery are visible on vertical aerial photographs of 1942. The battery consists of three large structures connected by what appears to be a walkway, possibly covered in some way. These structures are centred at TR 0912 2732, and extend across an area measuring approximately 80m south-west to north-east and a maximum of 16m north-west to south-east. The southernmost structure of the group of three in the battery is adjacent to contemporary barbed wire defences (Monument Number 1535054), and appears to be connected to pillboxes to the east (Monument Numbers 1535204, 1535203) by trenches visible on aerial photographs as extant earthworks (Monument Number 1535587).

By the time of the oblique aerial photograph of 1947; only the southernmost building of the group of three in this battery remains extant. This building was removed by the time of the vertical aerial photograph of 1983.

As noted above, the New Romney Emergency Coastal Battery is also recorded from documentary sources as occupying this vicinity. However, it is thought that the remains visible on the aerial photographs of 1942 comprise the later St Marys Bay battery, as it has been suggested that the New Romney battery was only operational during 1940 (3-5).

<1> Dobinson, C., 2000, Twentieth century fortifications in England. Volume 6.2. Coast Artillery, 1900-1956, 6.2 pp 304,307 (Monograph). SWX23711.

<2> ?, Twentieth century military recording project: World War Two Coastal Batteries, pp 89 (Unspecified Type). SWX23712.

<3> RAF, 1942, NMR RAF/AC81 174-5 26-AUG-1942 (Photograph). SWX23894.

<4> 1947, NMR CAL/UK/1 0111 02-JUN-1947 (Photograph). SWX23608.

<5> 1983, NMR MAL/83019 032 12-JUL-1983 (Photograph). SWX23778.

Sources and further reading

Related records