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Monument record TQ 53 NE 474 - A Second World War sunken battle headquarters

Summary

A Second World War sunken battle headquarters located in Hargate Forest on the south-south-west outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. The headquarters were built between May 1941 and September 1941 by 172 Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers and civilian contractors, and were located in 2000 during undergrowth clearance.

Location

Grid reference	TQ 5740 3740 (point)
Map sheet	TQ53NE
County	KENT
District	TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

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Type and Period (1)

BATTLE HEADQUARTERS (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)

Full Description

Site known as The Wilderness, and said to be 'General Montgomery's underground headquarters' [period uncertain].Gary Marshall of Countryside Matters Ltd. provides information that the Woodland Trust who manage the area of this site are currently clearing undergrowth and have located this headquarters. More information is to be provided to DoBDA. [Tel: 01825-723508].

[see letter to Paul Bonsall - 9.10.00].This site now known [12.12.00] to have been the sunken battle headquarters of 12 Corps, built between May-September 1941 by 172 Tunnelling Company RE and civilian contractors.Broadwater Down / Hargate Forest, SSW outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. (1-2)

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 2002, Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SKE32029.

<2> CBA Defence of Britain Project, 1994, Defence of Britain Site Report (Bibliographic reference). SKE6447.

Sources/Archives (2)

<1> SKE32029 Digital archive: Council for British Archaeology. 2002. Defence of Britain Project.
<2> SKE6447 Bibliographic reference: CBA Defence of Britain Project. 1994. Defence of Britain Site Report.