Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A pillbox and adjacent slit trench are visible at the northern tip of Chislet Colliery on 1940s aerial photographs. It is unclear if the pillbox still exists as modern aerial photographs show the area under dense scrub and trees which maybe obscure the structure.

This structure appears to be a previously unrecorded pillbox belonging to the "Eastern Curtain" defensive line (Mke42781).

Monument Types

• BANK (EARTHWORK) (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• PILLBOX (TYPE FW3/24) (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• SLIT TRENCH (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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A pillbox and adjacent slit trench are visible at the northern tip of Chislet Colliery on 1940s aerial photographs [1]. It is unclear if the pillbox still exists; it is still visible on 1980s oblique aerial photographs but modern aerial photographs show the area as under dense scrub and trees which may be obscuring the structure [2 - 3].

The pillbox appears to be of Type 24 form. The slit-trench is about 30m long and follows a sinuous course, aligned approximately NW-SE. It is protected by a bank on all sides apart form the SE end.

These are one of several WWII defensive features that were clustered around the colliery and the adjacent stretches of road and river (MWX43081, MWX43082, MWX43083, Mke42800).

The pillbox appears to be a previously unrecorded structure belonging to the "Eastern Curtain" defensive line (Mke42781).

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

<3> Google Earth (Graphic material). SWX15704.

<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2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document).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South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document).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

Related records