A buried underground tunnel system sited to the rear of Townsend Farm at St. Margaret's at Cliffe, which may be the site of a Second World War underground hospital, presumably for the military, thought to have been built in about 1941. It is aligned roughly north-east to south-west. There were 6 entrances with steps down from the surface, which are now blocked. The known element of the tunnel site is thought to have been 275 foot long, with 5 main chambers linked by two parallel narrower tunnels along the eastern side. The easternmost of these was lined with concrete blocks. The main areas were partly supported by steel girders and wooden props, other parts of the tunnels were simply cut into the chalk with no supports. The main tunnels were 10 feet wide and 8 foot high. Other tunnels were 6 foot high by 6 foot wide. At each end of the complex were were earth-covered bunkers. It was clearly abandoned by 1970 and by 1981 it had been covered over. The Kent History discussion forum thread includes a plan of the site derived from a site visit made in 1970. (1)

Although the suggested function of the complex was as a (military) hospital, it should be noted that the area has a wealth of defence sites. These include Second World War deep air raid shelters supporting batteries in the nearby cliffs at St. Margaret's Bay; the recoil spur for the large long range gun known as "Pooh" was in the area too and also a Cold War radar or "rotor" station's domestic site lies close by- with which the tunnel system might be alternatively associated . (2,3)

<1> 2010, 'Kent History Forum: St Margarets Underground Hospital' (Website). SKE56463.

<2> John A. Guy, 2013-, Verbal communication from John Guy, defence expert working in the Dover area (Verbal communication). SKE24831.

<3> CBA Defence of Britain Project, 1994, Defence of Britain Site Report (Bibliographic reference). SKE6447.