Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Pickett-Hamilton Forts were designed in June 1940 by the New Kent Construction Company for the close defence of airfield runways. Each fort consisted of two, vertically sunken concrete cylinders, one inside the other. The inner cylinder or lifting head of this fort remains in its lowered position, flush with the ground surface. The lifting head was designed to be lifted by means of a pneumatic jack and operated by a two man crew, using a Vickers or Bren gun. Three forts were built at West Malling, one remains in situ and one has been removed to Duxford Imperial War Museum in 1983. The location of the third fort is unknown.

Monument Types

• PICKETT HAMILTON FORT (Modern - 1940 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Identified in 1940 as one of 149 airfields at threat of air assult in the event of a German Invasion three Pickett-Hamilton forts were installed at West Malling airfield (TQ 65 NE 94). These structures were designed in June 1940 by New Kent Construction Company, specifically for the close defence of airfield runways. The forts consistedsof two, vertically sunken concrete cylinders, one mounted inside the other. The inner cylinder, knwon as the lifting head, remains in its lowered position, flush with the ground surface. The lifting head, pierced with three apertures for its main Vickers or Bren gun, was designed to be raised to its firing position by means of a pneumatic jack, supplemented by a manual pump for emergancy use. The fort retains most of its original features, including its internal operating equipment as well as the access hatch in the lid of the lifting head through which the two man crew entered. The second fort was removed in 1983 to Duxford Imperial War Museum and the location of the third fort is unknown.

The fort is a well preserved example of a rare form of gun emplacement, 242 of which were installed on 82 airfields in 1940 - 1941 by a commercial construction company. (1)

<1> Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2001, WWII Bofors AA Gun Tower, Pickett-Hamilton Fort and Pillbox: West Malling Fighter Station, RSM 34304 - 2 (Scheduling record). SKE7928.

Sources and further reading

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