Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

WWII military site visible in 1942 and 1946, located in Walmer. The 1942 photography showed this site to be comprised of two large earthworked features, each with an associated structure, a bank, an irregular ditch and enclosing barbed wire. The larger of the associated structures appeared to be a Dover style pillbox. Aerial photography taken in 1946 showed the two large features had been disused. Two lengths of barbed wire had also been removed in the SW of the site. Five small structures had been added to the site, as had three banks and two lines of barbed wire located around a new series of parch marks. Also added was a spigot mortar. The site was not visible in 2003.

Monument Types

• BANK (EARTHWORK) (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• BARBED WIRE ENTANGLEMENT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• DITCH (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• MILITARY SITE (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• PILLBOX (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• SPIGOT MORTAR EMPLACEMENT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• STRUCTURE (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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WWII military site visible on aerial photography taken in 1942 and 1946 [1 and 2], located in Walmer. The 1942 photography showed this site to be comprised of two large earthworked features, each with an associated structure, a bank, an irregular ditch and enclosing barbed wire. The two large features were banked with internal structures and some ditching. The larger of the associated structures appeared to be a Dover style pillbox, which could be represented by one of two National Monuments Record entries ‘Second World War reinforced concrete pillbox [Sector 6]. East of Kingsdown.’ (1428659) and ‘Second World War reinforced concrete pillbox [Sector 6]. South-East of Walmer.’ (1428660). This cannot be determined with certainty, however. The external barbed wire spanned an area 295 x 110m and was between one and two lines thick.

Aerial photography taken in 1946 showed the site to have developed. The two large features had been disused and were seen to be overgrown. Two lengths of barbed wire had also been removed in the SW of the site. Five small structures had been added to the site, as had three banks and two lines of barbed wire located around a new series of parch marks. Also added was a spigot mortar which was mapped as a circular structure surrounded by a ditch with three short radiating ditches towards the W, S and E. The site was not visible on Next Perspectives photography taken in 2003 [3].

The site was located close to a single line of WWII barbed wire (MWX43668) in the N, another WWII military site in the N (MWX43670) and an area of WWII barbed wire to the E (MWX43646).

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

<3> 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