Exploring Kent's Past

It should not be assumed that this site is publicly accessible and it may be on private property. Do not trespass.

Monument details

Summary

Extensive beachfront Second World War barbed wire defences are visible on aerial photographs of 1943 from the vicinity of the Lifeboat Station in the south, to just south of Lade to the north. The barbed wire also extends inland some way at two points along its length.

Monument Types

• BARBED WIRE OBSTRUCTION (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

If you do not understand anything on this page please contact us.

This group of barbed wire defences is centred at TR 0896 1918, and is visible on vertical aerial photographs of 1946. The occasionally double lines of barbed wire extend approximately 2.3km along the beach, adjacent to the seaward side of Coast Drive. From the point of the Lifeboat Station, two parallel lines of barbed wire obstruction extend inland at right angles to the beach, before turning north-eastwards. This intermittent inland stretch is visible on aerial photographs for a maximum of approximately 570m. Just south of the junction between Coast Drive and Kerton Road, a second inland stretch is visible on aerial photographs for approximately 278m ENE to WSW.

By the time of the vertical aerial photographs of 1983; no sign of the barbed wire was visible (1-2).

<1> RAF, 1943, NMR RAF/AC81 194-5 26-AUG-1943 (Photograph). SWX23900.

<2> Vertical aerial photograph reference number (Unspecified Type). SWX23776.

Sources and further reading

Related records