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

This feature is mentioned in the English Heritage report on the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula. The feature comprises various defence works are recorded related to the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line at the area between Wybornes Wood and Lodge Hill Wood, to the north of the Lodge Hill Depot. The defence works include barbed wire enclosures, earth banking, cleared areas, and re-used First World War redoubts.

Monument Types

• DEFENCE WORK (Modern - 1940 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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

These features are recorded in the English Heritage report on the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula. The features include:
- Barbed wire enclosures
- Reused First World War redoubts

Some features such as pillboxes, the Redoubts and the Stop Line are recorded in separate monument records.

The report states: "Here the stop line followed a sharply angled course on the north facing slope of Deangate Ridge between Wybornes Wood and Lodge Hill Wood (TQ 7675 7455 to TQ 7646 7443) for a total distance of 396m. There were small gun emplacements and weapons pits near the edge of the cleared strip around the anti-tank ditch. Wybornes Wood and Lodge Hill Wood were used as part of the defensive line and pillboxes were placed along the northern edge of both woods, looking north over the marshes.

Condition: The earliest aerial photographs taken in 1944 show the ditch is backfilled with mounds of earth visible alongside. It is visible as a vegetation mark on aerial photographs of 2003. A field visit confirms the ditch survives as a very low earthwork adjacent to Lodge Hill Wood and where it turns at a sharp right angle".

The report describes the other features:
"Second World War defended locality with barbed wire enclosures, small weapons pits or gun emplacements, pillboxes, and a possible First World War redoubt. A similar defended locality is 800m to the west (1546483). A 1940 German map shows a barbed wire entanglement about there. Mapped from aerial photographs taken in 1944 and 1947. First World War redoubt was seen as a very low earthwork on a May 2015 field visit. The field due east of Wybornes Wood was under plough at the time of the field visit and no earthworks could be observed."

First World War reboubt within a Second World War defended locality (1546575) possibly reused for the stop line. Field visit in May 2015 observed the redoubt as a very low earthwork. TQ 7660 7426.

Military earthworks on the north edge of Deangate Ridge may relate to First World War training and/or the Stop Line. Recorded on 1944 aerial photographs by not visible on 2013 Google Earth. A buried hatch seen on a May 2015 field visit could be associated. TQ 7652 7443.

First World War redoubt adjacent to the stop line appears abandoned by the Second World War but may have been reused. Recorded on aerial photographs but not visible on Google Earth 2013. Not seen on a May 2015 visit as field in arable. TQ 7648 7447.

Pre-Second World War military training area possibly re-used in the Second World War. Features on 1944 aerial photographs not visible on Google Earth 2013. May be sub-surface remains. TQ 7646 7427.

A large pit with ditches radiating from could relate to First World War training and/or the Stop Line. Recorded on 1944 aerial photographs but not visible on Google Earth 2013. Current condition is unknown. TQ 7641 7454. (1)


(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