Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Three lengths of WWII slit trenching are visible as earthworks on 1940s aerial photography. They were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Richborough Environs Project.

Monument Types

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

Full description

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WWII slit trenching is visible as intermittent earthworks on the cliff edge east of Richborough amphitheatre on 1940s RAF vertical aerial photographs.

The central section is of well-defined crenellated form and could be traced for c.41m. The southernmost section lies 50m to the south and consists of two straight trenches, the northern 6m in length and the southern 9m, on the same alignment. A further possible short length of slit-trench, 5m long and suppressed v-shape in plan, lies 110m north of the central section.

The northern feature appears to have been plough-levelled since and is not visible as an earthwork on recent aerial photography [2]. The other sections of slit trenching now lie in an area of scrubby vegetation and may still survive as earthworks [2].

These trenches are one of several WWII defensive features recorded around Richborough fort, see Related Monuments.

These and surrounding features were mapped at 1:2500 scale from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Richborough Environs Project. The transcriptions produced by this project were added to those produced by the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment (2009-10), see Associated Events. The resulting transcriptions exist as a GIS layer held by this HER [3].

<2> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data, Tile Ref: PGA_TR3259_2003-08-14 (Graphic material). SWX15711.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2009-10, South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - Aerial Photographic Transcriptions (Digital archive). SWX15705.

<3> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document). SKE25955.

<3> 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South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document).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