Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A small building is visible on early 1940s aerial photographs. The building lies within a golf course, is square in plan and appears to have a pitched roof. It is not visible on early to mid-20th century Ordnance Survey and, as it also lies adjacent to a probable WWII stop line, it has been suggested that it is likely to be a contemporary pillbox. The area remains in use as a golf course and a similar building is shown at this location on the recent Ordnance Survey mapping. Recent aerial photography and photographs show that this also has a pitched, conical roof and that its walls may be brick. It is probable that this structure is the same as that visible on the 1940s photographs.

The character of the building is dissimilar to that usually seen in a pillbox and more like that of a hut. Further study of the building to assess whether or not it is a pillbox is recommended.

Monument Types

• BUILDING (Modern - 1939 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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A small building is visible on early 1940s RAF vertical aerial photographs [1]. The building is square in plan, with sides measuring c.3m in length, and appears to have a pitched, conical roof.

This building is not visible on early to mid-20th century Ordnance Survey maps of the area which show its surroundings as a golf course (e.g. [2]) and, as it also lies adjacent to a probable WWII stop line (MWX43387), it has been suggested that it is likely to be a contemporary pillbox. The area remains in use as a golf course and a building of similar dimensions and orientation is shown at this location on the most recent Ordnance Survey mapping [3]. Recent aerial photography and panoramic photographs show that this building also has a pitched, conical roof and indicates that its walls may be brick-built [4-5]. It is probable that this structure is the same as that visible on the 1940s photographs.

The character of the building, as seen on the recent imagery, is, however, dissimilar to that usually seen in a pillbox and looks more like a hut associated with the surrounding golf course. Further study of the building to assess whether or not it is a pillbox is recommended.

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photography exists within a GIS layer held by this HER [6].

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1928-1947, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947 (Map). Ske12644.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 2009, OS MasterMap (Cartographic materials). SWX15710.

<4> Google Earth, viewed 07/06/2010 (Graphic material). SWX15704.

<5> 2009, Google Street View (Photograph). SWX15713.

<6> Wessex Archaeology, 2009-10, South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - Aerial Photographic Transcriptions (Digital archive). SWX15705.

<6> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document). SKE25955.

<6> 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