Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A WWII pillbox and associated slit trenching are visible on early 1940s aerial photographs. The features occupy an area of flat ground between Sandwich's medieval defences and the south bank of the River Stour. The features appear to have been removed after the war and are no longer visible on aerial photographs from 1949.

Monument Types

• PILLBOX (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• SLIT TRENCH (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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A pillbox and associated slit trenching are visible on early 1940s RAF vertical aerial photographs [1].

The features occupy an area of flat ground between Sandwich's medieval defences and the south bank of the River Stour. Ordnance Survey mapping dating to 1938 shows this area as part of the grounds of a saw mill [2], but the buildings associated with it appear to have been cleared by the time of the aerial photograph. The pillbox appears to be of Type 24 form and the slit trenching occupies the majority of the ground between it and the town defences. The trenching runs for 90m to the east of the pillbox and 70m to its west. This is one of several defensive features added to the circuit of Sandwich’s existing medieval town defences during WWII.

The features appear to have been removed after the war and are no longer visible on aerial photographs from 1949 [3].

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

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1858-73, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 1st Edition : 1872-1897 (Map). SWX11831.

<3> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data (Graphic material). SWX15711.

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2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document).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South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document).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