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ID:SKE31599
Title:Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes. Research Report 9-2014.
Originator:historic england
Date:2014
Summary:The Second World War stop line between Hoo St Werburgh and Higham Marshes is a notable surviving example of anti-invasion defence. It is the northern section of the Newhaven-Hoo General Headquarters (GHQ) Line where it crosses the Hoo Peninsula in Kent between the rivers Medway and Thames. It is an important remnant of the Second World War defended landscape of the peninsula and is a well-preserved example of this type of defence, which is part of a major chapter in the national story. The surviving remains form a coherent pattern of defence linked to the local topography and connect our perceptions of the current landscape with the fear of invasion experienced by a previous generation. The line was part of a national network of defences and was constructed in July and August 1940 to hinder invading forces from the Kent and Sussex coast. The defensive line used natural and manmade obstacles connected by sections of anti-tank ditch. The line was heavily defended and included pillboxes, anti-tank gun emplacements and road blocks. The surviving parts of the stop line, including buried and surface remains of the anti-tank ditch, provide a coherent and legible picture of how these defences were intended to work. The stop line was identified for further work during the English Heritage Hoo Peninsula Historic Landscape Project. This report describes the elements that make up the line on the Hoo Peninsula, recorded principally from 1940s aerial photographs, and includes an assessment of current survival from recent aerial photographs and field visits.

Associated Monuments

TQ 77 SW 1079A probable Type 28A Second World War pillbox or anti-tank gun emplacement to the west of the Second World War Stop Line in Cliffe Woods. Since removed (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1245Air raid shelter, Lodge Hill Anti-Aircraft Battery, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 151Anti tank Blockhouse, near Hoo Flats, Hoo St. Werburgh (Listed Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 152Anti tank obstacle blocks located by Hoo Flats, Hoo St. Werburgh (Listed Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1287Anti-tank pillbox, Deangate, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1267Anti-tank pillbox, northern edge of Berry Court Wood, Cliffe (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1268Anti-tank pillboxn Berry Court Wood, Cliffe (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1330Earth banking adjacent to the Second World War Stop Line on the Hoo Peninsula, between Lodge Hill and Wybornes Wood. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1074Earthbanking associated with a section of the Second World War Stop Line, Hoo Peninsula, running from the railway near Newlands Farm, north to quarry. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1327Earthwork banking adjacent to part of the Second World War Stop Line from south-east of Ratcliffe Highway to Deansgate Sports Ground, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1334Earthwork banking. Part of the Hoo Second World War Stop Line, located north of Lodge Hill Depot, between the Lodge Hill Woods and Wybornes Wood. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1337Earthwork banks associated with part of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, between Lodge Hill Wood and Berry Court Wood. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1073Earthwork banks associated with the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula, section from north of Deangate Ridge north to the railway line. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1336Extent of flanking cleared area around section of Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, between Lodge Hill Wood and Berry Court Wood. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1348First World War redoubt, adjacent to Hoo Peninsula Stop Line, may have been reused in Second World War, located between Lodge Hill Wood, Wyborne Wood. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1346First World War redoubt, part of it reused to site a Second World War Type 24 pillbox (recorded as separate HER reocrd). East of Lodge Hill Depot. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 NW 1229Flanking areas around a section of the Second World War Stop Line, north and west of Buckland Farm, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1072Flanking cleared area around section of Second World War Stop Line, from north from Deangate Ridge to the railway, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1324Flanking cleared area around the Stop Line of the section of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, running from the River Medway to Stoke Road (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1326Flanking cleared area of part of the Stop Line from south-east of the Ratcliffe Highway to the Deansgate Sports Ground, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1339Flanking cleared area of the Hoo Peninsula Stop Line: section from Lodge Hill to Wybornes Wood. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1075Flanking cleared areas for the section of the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula, from the railway near Newlands Farm north to the quarry (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1355Footings for an anti-aircraft battery located at Lodge Hill Anti-aircraft battery. Possibly pre-First World War or First or Second World War date. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 NW 1230Four concrete blocks - part of anti-tank defences for the Second World War Stop Line, Hoo Peninsula. Since removed. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1357Gun emplacement or searchlight battery of uncertain date, located in the site of the First World War Lodge Hill Anti-aircraft battery. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 NW 1209Higham Creek Second World War anti-invasion obstruction, Higham Creek (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1273Infantry pillbox, north of Yew Tree Lodge, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1232Infantry type 24 pillbox, northern edge of Berry Court Wood, Hoo Peninsula (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1333Line of the anti-tank ditch, part of Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, north of Lodge Hill Depot, between Lodge Hill Wood and Wybornes Wood. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1323Line of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line from the River Medway to north-east of Hoo St Werburgh (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1329Part of Hoo Peninsula Stop Line from Lodge Hill to Wybornes Wood, Hoo Peninsula (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1335Part of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, running from Lodge Hill Wood to Berry Court Wood, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1325Part of the Hoo Peninsula Stop Line running from South-east of Ratcliffe Highway to Deansgate Ridge Sports Ground (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1281Plinth of Type 24 Pillbox, north of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1347Possible First World War redoubt, later reused for Second World War defences as part of the Hoo Peninsula Stop Line, north of Lodge Hill Depot. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1345Possible hexagonal Second World War pillbox located on a north west facing slope near north-west corner of Lodge Hill Armaments Depot, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1360Possible post medieval wood banks, located to the east of the Lodge Hill Anti-Aircraft battery, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1344Possible Second World War circular Type 25 pillbox near Lodge Hill Lane and the north west corner of Lodge Hill Ordnance Depot, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1359Probable First World War origin buildings and structures at the Lodge Hill Anti-aircraft battery, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1076Probable Second World War anti-tank gun emplacement or pillbox at the edge of Ratly Hills Wood, near Cliffe Woods (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1077Probable Second World War anti-tank gun emplacement or pillbox located near the end of a section of the Second World War Stop Line. Since removed. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1082Probable Second World War pillbox located in the garden of the Old Rectory, Rectory Road, north of Cliffe Woods. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1274Road block, N of Yew Tree Lodge, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 NW 1266Second World War anti-tank blocks positioned near West Court Farm, Cliffe (Monument) ()
TQ 77 NW 1227Second World War artillery pillbox located to the east of the anti-tank ditch, near Rectory Road, Cliffe Parish. (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1342Second World War circular Type 24 pillbox, near Lodge Hill Lane, to the north of the Lodge Hill Ordnance Depot, Hoo Peninsula. (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1358Second World War defence locality at Lodge Hill Anti-aircraft battery - with gun emplacements, military support buildings, barbed wire enclosure. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1051Second World War defensive pillbox, Buckland Road, Higham (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1354Second World War features relating to the Second World War Stop Line, defences of Lodge Hill Depot, at the First World War Anti-Aircraft battery site. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1356Second World War gun emplacement or light anti-aircraft battery on Rough Shaw, in the Lodge Hill First World War anti-aircraft battery. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1328Second World War military support buildings, part of the Stop Line defences in the Hoo Peninsula, located north of Ratcliffe Highway, Hoo St Werburgh. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1078Second World War pillbox adjacent to the end of a section of the Second World War Stop Line, near Cliffe Woods. Likely removed. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1081Second World War pillbox on the western edge of Cliffe Woods, Hoo Peninsula. Since removed. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1054Second World War pillbox, Buckland Road, Higham (Building) ()
TQ 77 SW 50Second World War pillbox, Gore Green Road, Higham (Building) ()
TQ 77 NW 126Second World War Pillbox, Higham Marshes (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1322Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes, Hoo Peninsula, Kent (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1080Second World War Type 24 pillbox on the northern edge of Cliffe Woods, Hoo Peninsula. Since removed. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1341Second World War Type 24 pillbox, on the western edge of Lodge Hill Wood, on Rough Shaw, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1343Second World War Type 25 pillbox on Deangate Ridge overlooking Lodge Hill Ordnance Depot, Hoo Peninsula. Since removed. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1071Section of the Second World War Stop Line from Deangate Ridge to Higham Marshes, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 NW 1228Section of the Second World War Stop Line to the north and west of Buckland Farm, Higham Marshes (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 1083Site of a possible pillbox, South of Rectory Road, Cliffe. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1332Small hexagonal concrete structure, possible Second World War pillbox, north east of the centre of Hoo St Werburgh. Destroyed by 1946. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1338Two possible Second World War circular type 25 pillboxes, at the eastern gate of Lodge Hill Ordance Depot, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1331Two Second World War weapons pits, east of Hoo St Werburgh, just south of Abbots Court House. Part of the Hoo Peninsula Stop Line. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 1262Type 24 Pillbox, Deangate Wood, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1283Type 24 Pillbox, east edge of Lodge Hill Wood, Cooling (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1282Type 24 Pillbox, east of Lodge Hill Wood, Cooling (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1257Type 24 pillbox, east of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1256Type 24 pillbox, Guelder Rose Drive, Hoo St Werburgh (Listed Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1251Type 24 pillbox, north of A228, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1259Type 24 pillbox, north of Ratcliffe highway, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1284Type 24 Pillbox, northern edge of Lodge Hill Wood, Cooling (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1285Type 24 Pillbox, northern edge of Lodge Hill Wood, Cooling (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1255Type 24 pillbox, north-west corner of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 124Type 24 pillbox, Rough Shaw, Cooling (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1258Type 24 pillbox, south of Ratcliffe Highway, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1278Type 24 Pillbox, south of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1263Type 24 pillbox, south of Yew Tree Lodge, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1244Type 24 Pillbox, south-east of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1280Type 24 Pillbox, West of Deangate Ridge Sports Centre, High Halstow (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1250Type 28 A pillbox, Guelder Rose Drive, Hoo St Werburgh (Listed Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1243Type 28A anti-tank pillbox, Abbots Lodge House, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1279Type 28A Pillbox, Deangate Wood, Hoo St Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1247Type 28A Pillbox, east of First World War redoubt, Cooling (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1246Type 28A Pillbox, south of First World War redoubt, Cooling (Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 1340Various defence works related to the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line between Lodge Hill Wood and Wybornes Wood. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 139World War I anti aircraft emplacements, Lodge Hill, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 148World War II anti tank Blockhouse, near Bell's Lane, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 67World War II Anti tank blockhouse, near Eastcroft Farm, Cliffe, comprising pillboxes, transport buildings and military supply buildings. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 66World War II anti tank blockhouse, The Old Rectory, Cliffe (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 99World War II Pillbox at Ratcliffe highway/Deangate Road Junction, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 150World War II Pillbox by Hoo Flats, Hoo St. Werburgh (Listed Building) ()
TQ 77 SE 97World War II Pillbox in orchard north of Stoke Road, near White House Farm, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 100World War II Pillbox south of Ratcliffe Highway, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SE 104World War II Pillbox west of Abbots Court, Hoo St. Werburgh (Building) ()
TQ 77 SW 68World War II Pillbox, Cardens Wood, Cliffe (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 60World War II Pillbox, Lillechurch Road, Cliffe (Building) ()
TQ 77 SW 54World War II pillbox, south of Eastcroft Farm, Cliffe (Building) ()
TQ 77 SW 59World War II Pillbox, Town Road, Cliffe (Building) ()
TQ 77 SW 55World War II Pillbox, View Road, Cliffe. Since removed. (Monument) ()
TQ 77 SW 58World War II Pillbox, west of Town Road, Cliffe (Building) ()
TQ 77 SW 56World War II Pillbox, west of Town Road, Cliffe (Monument) ()