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

Second World War coastal defences south of Broadstairs, comprising slit trenching, gun pits and barbed wire, mapped from military aerial photographs.

Monument Types

• MACHINE GUN POST (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• SLIT TRENCH (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• BARBED WIRE OBSTRUCTION (Modern - 1941 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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

Second World War coastal defences south of Broadstairs, comprising slit trenching, gun pits and barbed wire, mapped from military aerial photographs taken in 1941 and 1942.

By January 1941, two gun pits and associated banks was constructed on the coast [1]. The internal diameters of the gun pits are 3m and 3.5m. By May 1942 [2] these features have been backfilled but a new slit trench system with one associated gun pit has been excavated approximately 50m to the north-east. A series of lengths of barbed wire encloses these features. These coastal defence features are gone by April 1946 [3].

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photography exists within a GIS layer held by this HER [4].

<4> Wessex Archaeology, 2009-10, South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - Aerial Photographic Transcriptions (Digital archive). SWX15705.

<4> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document). SKE25955.

<4> Cornwall Council Historic Environment Projects and Gloucestershire County Council, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document). SKE25954.

Sources and further reading