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Monument details

HER Number:TR 34 NE 333
Type of record:Monument
Name:Large military site and complex of unknown function, Kingsdown

Summary

A large Second World War complex existed at Kingsdown. It is visible in 1941, 1942 and 1946 photographs. The site was comprised of a large central complex and roughly circular bank surrounded by barbed wire. To the N lay six circular ditches, one structure and probable eroded pathways. To the E lay a single bank and a banked slit trench. No elements of this site were visible in 2003.

Summary from record MWX43635:

WWII military site visible in 1941, 1942 and 1945, located in Kingsdown. This site was comprised of nine banked features contained within an open barbed wire enclosure. The site was not visible in 2003.

More research is being carried out on this site and the records will be improved when information becomes available.

Grid Reference:TR 37521 49089
Map Sheet:TR34NE
Parish:RINGWOULD WITH KINGSDOWN, DOVER, KENT
WALMER, DOVER, KENT

Monument Types

  • (Former Type) SEAPLANE BASE (Modern - 1917 AD to 1919 AD (between))
  • BANK (EARTHWORK) (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • BANK (EARTHWORK) (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • BARBED WIRE ENTANGLEMENT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • BARBED WIRE ENTANGLEMENT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • DITCH (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • MILITARY BUILDING (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • MILITARY SITE (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
  • SLIT TRENCH (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. This site measured 160 x 80m at maximum dimensions. Aerial photography taken in 1941 and 1942 showed the site to be comprised of a rectangular structure and roughly circular bank surrounded by barbed wire. To the N lay six circular ditches, one structure and probable eroded pathways. To the E lay a single bank and a banked slit trench. This site was partly enveloped by the military site to the W which was developed and expanded between 1942 and 1946 (MWX43633). 1946 aerial photography also showed the internal structure to have been removed and a new structure placed atop the existing internal bank. The barbed wire was removed, revealing a linear bank to the SE of the site. The features outside the barbed wire to the N were not visible as they had been covered with dense barbed wire, thus they may have been obscured by the wire or removed. The other features were still present on 1946 photography.

No elements of this site were visible on Next Perspectives photography taken in 2003 [4].

To the E lay a contemporary military site (MWX43632) and to the W was another contemporary military site which was expanded to cover some of this site.

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

Description from record MWX43635:
A large Second World War complex existed at Kingsdown. It is visible in 1941, 1942 and 1946 photographs. The site was comprised of a large central complex and roughly circular bank surrounded by barbed wire. This site measured 300 x 160m at maximum dimensions. The 1941 aerial photography showed three banked features accompanied by a further six banked features which ran along an existing field boundary. These features were contained within an open barbed wire enclosure. Aerial photography taken in 1942 showed the same features, but the three central banks were more defined as enclosures. Aerial photography taken in 1945 showed the central banks to be dispersed and unused and the six banks no longer visible. The enclosing barbed wire was seen to have been removed, though two sections remained in the S, one of which appeared to have been reused within the enclosing barbed wire of a WWII military site to the W (MWX43633). The site was not visible on Next Perspectives photography taken in 2003 [4 and 5].

This site lay S of two WWII military sites (MWX43632) (MWX43634) and S, but within the extent of another WWII military site (MWX43633).

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


<4> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: TR3748 14-AUG-2003 (Graphic material). SWX15711.

<4> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: TR3749 14-AUG-2003 (Graphic material). SWX15711.

<5> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data, Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: TR3749 14-AUG-2003 (Graphic material). SWX15711.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<4>Graphic material: Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage. 2003, 2007. Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: TR3749 14-AUG-2003.
<5>Graphic material: Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage. 2003, 2007. Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data. Next Perspectives PGA Tile Ref: TR3749 14-AUG-2003.