Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Possible Second World War gun emplacements are visible on aerial photographs on the Dymchurch sea wall taken in 1942 and 1946. The gun emplacements may be the coastal battery recorded as Monument Number 1422545. The possible emplacements were subsequently removed after the war.

Summary from record 1422545:

A Second World War coastal battery for 4 x 6-inch breech-loading guns located at Dymchurch. The exact location of the coastal battery was not determined on aerial photographs at this location, however there are possible gun emplacements on the sea wall (Monument Number: 1531491) which may in fact be the coastal battery.

Monument Types

• COASTAL BATTERY (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
• GUN EMPLACEMENT (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full description

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Three possible Second World War gun emplacements are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1942 and 1946 and have been mapped as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey NMP. The three possible gun emplacements are located on the sea wall at Dymchurch, where two of the structures appear to have pitched roofs, which is likely to be part of their wartime camouflage. It is possible that this is the location of the coastal battery recorded at Monument Number: 1422545, although the three structures may also relate to other Second World War invasion defences. The possible emplacements were subsequently removed after the war. (1-2)

Description from record 1422545:
4 x 6in breech-loading guns. Dymchurch. (1)

The exact location of the coastal battery referred to above (Source: 1) was not determined on aerial photographs viewed as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey NMP. However there are possible gun emplacements on the sea wall at TR 1034 2946 (Monument Number: 1531491) which may in fact be the coastal battery. (2)

<1> RAF, 1946, NMR RAF/106G/UK/1376 5014-5015 04-APR-1946 (Photograph). SWX23806.

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 2002/6, Defence of Kent database (Digital archive). SWX23603.

<2> RCHME/EH Aerial Photographers Comment (Unspecified Type). SWX23660.

<2> RAF, 1942, NMR RAF/AC81/H19/140 166-167 26-AUG-1942 (Photograph). SWX23906.

Sources and further reading

Related records