Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

WWII military site visible in 1941, 1942 and 1946, located in Kingsdown. The site was comprised of seven banks set within a hexagon of barbed wire. Five structures were located to the N of the site, outside the barbed wire. Three buildings were also present in the N of the site. The site was seen to have been disused by 1946 and only the northernmost structure was still visible in 2003.

Monument Types

• BANK (EARTHWORK) (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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WWII military site visible on aerial photographs taken in 1941, 1942 and 1946 [1, 2 and 3], located in Kingsdown. The site measured 110m x 100m at maximum dimensions. It was comprised of seven banks set within a hexagon of barbed wire. The two SW lines of barbed wire were placed on linear banks which extended slightly beyond the wire. Five structures were located to the N of the site, outside the barbed wire. Three buildings were also present in the N of the site; however they were visible on 1938 OS historic mapping [4] so have not been mapped as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey. These buildings may also have been part of the WWI Hawkshill Airfield (NMR 1413679).

The 1946 photography showed the site to have been disused, the barbed wire had been removed from the N E and S, but was preserved in the W where it formed part of an enclosure around another military site (MWX43633). This implied that both sites were in use simultaneously, between 1942 and 1946. The internal banks also appeared degraded on the 1946 photography, though the external linear banks were present.

Only the northernmost structure was still visible on Next Perspectives photography taken in 2003 [5].

To the W lay another military site (MWX43634) contemporary with this site, which also was disused and partly used by the larger WWII site (MWX43633).

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

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1928-1947, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947, 1938/1:2500 (Map). Ske12644.

<5> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: TR3749 12-SEP-2003 (Graphic material). SWX15711.

Sources and further reading