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 is part of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, running from Lodge Hill Wood to Berry Court Wood, Hoo Peninsula.

Monument Types

• STOP LINE (Modern - 1940 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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This feature is recorded in the English Heritage report on the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula. This section runs from Lodge Hill Wood to Berry Court Wood. The report states: "This section of the stop line was positioned mid-slope on the north side of the Deangate Ridge, beyond the north boundary of Lodge Hill Ordnance Depot (NRHE 1077634). It followed a sharply angled course for 714m between Lodge Hill Wood and Berry Court Wood (TQ 7591 7425 to TQ 7529 7402). The anti-tank ditch is between 40m and 45m above Ordnance Datum (OD) downslope from the highest point (70m above OD) where there was a Second World War defended locality, on the site of Lodge Hill First World War anti-aircraft battery. It is clear from the 1944 aerial photographs that the anti-tank ditch did not continue through either Lodge Hill Wood or Berry Court Wood. The woods were therefore part of the defensive lines and pillboxes were placed along their northern edges, overlooking the marshes and lowland to the north. Small weapons pits were located near the east end of this part of the line (at TQ 7576 7423 and TQ 7572 7417).
Condition: The earliest photographs taken in 1944 show the backfilled anti-tank ditch and there are mounds of earth lying alongside. However, the route of the stop line is still discernible as a vegetation pattern on 2003 Google Earth aerial photographs. Later aerial photographs show the scrubby trees are denser but you can still make out an earthwork. A concrete pathway seen on a field visit in 2014 in Berry Court Wood may be a military track. (1)

<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.

Sources and further reading

Related records