Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

WWII probable beach obstacles comprised of piled stones, visible in 1942, 1943 and 1946, located on the beach at Kingsdown. Some of the obstacles were not visible in 1946. Four rough semi-circles with the convex edge facing the sea were visible just above the high water mark. These ran approximately N-S along the beach within an area 1,150m long. Some were associated with pillboxes (MWX43643) (MWX43644). These obstacles were no longer visible in 2003.

Monument Types

• BEACH DEFENCE (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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WWII probable beach obstacles comprised of piled stones, visible on aerial photographs taken in 1942, 1943 and 1946 [1, 2 and 3], located on the beach at Kingsdown. Some of the obstacles were not visible on the 1946 photography. Four rough semi-circles with the convex edge facing the sea were visible just above the high water mark. These ran approximately N-S along the beach within an area 1,150m long. The southernmost set of obstacles was 52m long and comprised of what is likely to have been piled stones; northwards, the next was 46m long and also just stones; the next was 59m long and was associated with a type 22 pillbox (MWX43643); the northernmost set of obstacles measured 50m and was associated with four probable pillboxes (MWX43644).

These obstacles were no longer visible on aerial photography taken in 2003 [4 and 5]. The features were located on the landward side of two lines of WWII beach scaffolding (MWX43630) (MWX43629)

A transcription of the feature recorded from aerial photography 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: TR3750 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

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