Monument record TQ 87 NE 118 - Road connecting Grain Fort and Dummy battery, Isle of Grain

Summary

A 780m long military road connecting Grain Fort with Dummy Battery, constructed probably in the 1860's. Much of its course survives as a cutting towards its northern end, the southern end carried on an embankment as the ground drops. The western side of Wing Battery abuts the road, being constructed later than the road and both Grain Fort and Dummy Batteries.The earthwork remains of the road and associated batteries were mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.

Location

Grid reference Centred TQ 8917 7600 (119m by 491m) Centred on
Map sheet TQ87NE
County KENT
Civil Parish ISLE OF GRAIN, MEDWAY, KENT
Unitary Authority MEDWAY

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Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Covered way between Grain Fort and Dummy Battery, consisting of 4 metre high rampart with a trackway below on its Eastern side. An unusual and extensive feature- may be part tunnelised (1).

Site photographs (2-6).

References to other defence sites in Kent (7).

The Field Survey Report refers to this feature as a 'road', specially constructed to connect Grain Fort [TQ 87 NE 8] with Dummy Battery [TQ 87 NE 10]. Part of the road was carried in a cutting and part on a causeway (see enclosed maps in the field survey report). The cutting lies north of Smithfield Road (589090,176330), the causeway is to the south (589193,175896). [8]

LINEAR EARTHWORK FORMING ENCLOSURE AND RECLAMATION OF SALTMARSH. From the above evidence this interpretation seems highly unlikely. [9].

Historic Enlgand archive material: MD003096 Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: TQ 87 NE Material still held by Aerial Survey.


<1> Victor Smith and Ron Crowdy, Thames Gateway Assesment: Gazetteer of Defence Sites (Index). SKE6445.

<2> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9555.

<3> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9557.

<4> 1942, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10000.

<5> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10236.

<6> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10238.

<7> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD95 (Index). SWX11828.

<8> RCHME, 1998, Coastal Artillery Fortifications on the Isle of Grain, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12515.

<9> Wessex Archaeology, 2001, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Phase II: Preliminary Field Investigation (Unpublished document). SWX11839.

Sources/Archives (9)

  • <1> Index: Victor Smith and Ron Crowdy. Thames Gateway Assesment: Gazetteer of Defence Sites.
  • <2> Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4018. print.
  • <3> Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4026. print.
  • <4> Photograph (Print): 1942. Photograph. 32. print.
  • <5> Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 54. print.
  • <6> Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 59. print.
  • <7> Index: Kent County Council. 1999. Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites. KD95.
  • <8> Unpublished document: RCHME. 1998. Coastal Artillery Fortifications on the Isle of Grain, Kent.
  • <9> Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2001. North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Phase II: Preliminary Field Investigation.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (3)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project NMP (EKE20812)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: Survey of coastal artillery fortifications on the Isle of Grain (EKE5289)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: Walkover survey for the North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Phase II (EWX8090)

Record last edited

Sep 24 2025 10:14AM