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

WWII practice trenches visible in 1942 and February 1946, located in Kingsdown. This site was not visible in 1941. The site was levelled and not visible in 1950, but the ditching was partially still visible in 2007 as a cropmark.

Monument Types

• BARBED WIRE ENTANGLEMENT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• PRACTICE TRENCH (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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

WWII practice trenches visible on aerial photography taken in 1942 [1] and February 1946 [2], located in Kingsdown. Aerial photography taken in April 1946 [3] shows the ditches beginning to be infilled. The features were 100m x 40m in total, with ditches generally around 2m wide and banks varying between 2m and 7m. This site was not visible on aerial photography taken in 1941 [4]. The site was levelled and not visible on aerial photography taken in 1950 [5], but the ditching was partially visible in Next Perspectives photography taken in 2007 [6] as a cropmark.

Surrounding the site was an enclosure of single-thickness barbed wire. This covered an area 310m x 560m and may have been for defence, or training purposes. The barbed wire was visible on aerial photography taken in 1942 and 1946, but not in 1941. It was removed as of 1950. Further entanglements of barbed wire are seen to the north, but these lie outside the study area.

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photographs exists within a GIS layer held by this HER.

<6> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: TR3747 28-APR-2007_Updates (Graphic material). SWX15711.

Sources and further reading

Related records