Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

WWII slit trenches located on Fox Hill Down, to the east of the Port of Dover. These crennulated trenches extend in an L-shape around the back of the Dover Convict and Miltitary Prison. The freshly dug trenches are visible on aerial photography dated to 1942 and 1945. The trenches have been infilled as shown on aerial photography in 1962. As of 2002 the trenches are visible as faint cropmarks and depressions.

Monument Types

• SLIT TRENCH (Modern - 1901 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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A system of trenches and dugouts, lying north west of the prison and battery. Most are infilled, but some survive as zig-zag depressions. Dug initially for practice but then used as part of the defence of the battery and prison (1).

WWII slit trenches located on Fox Hill Down, to the east of the Port of Dover. These crennulated trenches extend in an L-shape around the back of the former Dover Convict and Military Prison. The freshly dug trenches are visible on aerial photography dated to 1942 (2) and 1945 (3). Banking to the front (parapet) and rear (parados) is also evident and was probably spoil from the initial digging of the trenches. Some additional, less substantial, trenches are also evident to the north-east and are also visible on aerial photography taken in 1945. These appear to connect to a large cut feature, possibly the old chalk quarry; thye trenches utilised during WWII both for practice and subsequent defence. The trenches have been infilled as shown on aerial photography in 1962 (4). As of 2002 the trenches are visible as faint cropmarks and depressions (5).

<1> Nicola Bannister, 1999, Langdon Cliffs Survey (Unpublished document). SKE6595.

<5> Google Earth, EARTH.GOOGLE.COM 16-FEB-2002 ACCESSED 27-AUG-2010 (Graphic material). SWX15704.

Sources and further reading