Monument record TQ 77 NE 1124 - Possible First World War practice trenching, High Halstow

Aerial photographic assessment carried out in 2009-2013 identified a length of probable practice trenching at High Halstow. The exact date is not known but it may have been from the First World War.(1,2)

The earthworks of a possible First World War practice trench can be seen on aerial photographs taken in 1953. This crenulated trench is situated to the east of High Halstow behind Longfield Avenue and is centred on TQ 7845 7577. At the south eastern end of the crenulations (at TQ 7847 7575) is a trench layout similar to an Island Traverse. From this point the trench continues south-east in a straight line for circa 50m ending at the far end of Willowbank Drive. A possible northward continuation can be seen on aerial photographs taken in 1946. It may have been a field boundary but it does not closely match the boundary depicted by the Ordnance Survey and although overgrown, appears to be following a slightly zigzag line. It is possible that this is a Second World War defensive structure such as an anti-tank ditch. This was centred on TQ 7840 7600 and had been levelled by 1953. Air photos taken in 1961 show a further section of ditch to the north at TQ 7840 7616. This straight section of ditch at the south-east is marked on the 1940 Ordnance Survey and appears to be a drain. This an the crenulated section are now under trees and the entire length is marked as a drain by the Ordnance Survey. It was mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.(3-6)

<1> English Heritage, 2013, Hoo Peninsula, Kent: Hoo Peninsua Historic Landscape Project (Unpublished document). SKE29515.

<2> Historic England, 2017, First World War Fieldworks in England (Bibliographic reference). SKE53513.

<3> RAF, 1953, RAF 82/732 35-36 23-FEB-1953 (Photograph). SKE58889.

<4> RAF, 1946, RAF 106G/UK/1702 4060-4061 27-AUG-1946 (Photograph). SKE58890.

<5> 1940, Kent 1:2500 1940 (Map). SKE58891.

<6> KCC, 1961, KCC HSL/UK/6154 2198 13-MAY-1961 (Photograph). SKE58892.