Monument record TQ 67 SE 1321 - A former military testing range visible as an extensive area of water-filled craters located to the east and south-east of Shornemead Fort

A former military testing range visible as an extensive area of water-filled craters located at TQ 6956 7461 to the east and south-east of Shornemead Fort (covering an area c.540m x 300m). On photographs taken in 1947 there is no sign of activity in the area. The craters are first visible in the south-eastern area of pitting on aerial photographs taken between December 1951, spreading north-west towards the fort in phases. The area has doubled in size by August 1954, and when next photographed in August 1961 the pitting can be seen to extend almost to the fort. By this time activity appears to have stopped and the most recent craters have vegetation growing within them. Amongst the craters the earthwork remains of a number of embanked structres and at least one building were also recorded. These are thought to be possible shelters associated with the range.

Much of the site of water-filled craters forms an RSPB bird reserve. The remains of the craters were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project. (1-3)

<1> Royal Air Force, 1951, RAF 540/636 4005 03-DEC-1951 (Photograph). SKE58649.

<2> RAF, 1954, NMR RAF 82/1006 81-82 31-AUG-1954 (Photograph). SKE58427.

<3> Royal Air Force, 1961, RAF 58/4646 F42 0355 02-AUG-1961 (Photograph). SKE58650.