Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

A possible Second World War battery is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs. The battery is located within the Hythe Firing Ranges (Monument Number 1531850) south of Nickolls Quarry and comprises of a linear arrangement of eight irregular, earthworks in the sand, which may be the locations of light anti-aircraft guns. Two other possible battery sites are visible on the aerial photographs to the southwest (Monument Number 1532973 and 1532980). Three Light Anti Aircraft Battery's have been recorded in documents within the Hythe Ranges (Monument Number 1478157, 1477681 and 1478161) but none of these were visible on the historical photographs at the given locations and no records coincide with those sites described above. It may be that the OS Grid References given in the documentary evidence are wrong and the Second World War batteries described in the records are actually those visible on the aerial photographs at different locations.

Monument Types

• ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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A possible Second World War battery is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs and has been mapped as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment NMP. The battery is located within the sandy dunes of the Hythe Firing Ranges (Monument Number 1531850) south of Nickolls Quarry and comprises of a linear arrangement of eight irregular, earthworks in the sand, which may be the locations of light anti-aircraft guns. Two other possible battery sites are visible on the aerial photographs to the southwest (Monument Number 1532973 and 1532980). Three Light Anti Aircraft Batteries have been recorded in documents (Source 2) within the Hythe Ranges (Monument Number 1478157, 1477681 and 1478161) but none of these were visible on the historical photographs at the given locations and no records coincide with those possible visible battery locations described above. It may be that the OS Grid References given in the documentary evidence are wrong and the Second World War batteries described in the records are actually those visible at TR 1341 3271 (Monument Number 1532973), TR 1363 3289 (Monument Number 1532980) and TR 1377 3301. (1-2)

<1> RAF, 1946, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1112 3098-3099 12-JAN-1946 (Photograph). SWX23802.

<2> Dobinson, C., Operation Diver : England's Defence Against the Flying Bomb, June 1944-March 1945, pp 213, 222 (Monograph). SWX23707.

Sources and further reading

Related records