[TQ 893 756] Dummy Battery (NAT) (1)

[TQ 893 753] Grain Battery, 1865 to house 9" rifle muzzle- loading guns. Dummy Battery, 1900 to house twin breech- loaders, still extant. (2)

This was an open battery for 14 guns bearing on the entrance to the Medway and was constructed at the same time as Grain Fort [TQ 87 NE 7]. It was then proposed to provide 10 guns on Moncrieff carriages, but these never materialised and eventually 11in RML were installed. They were replaced in about 1895 by 6in BL guns, a battery of four being installed. Like Grain Fort it had active status until 1956, and was sold in 1961 and demolished in 1962 (not completely-see below) (3).

Site photographs (4-9).

For references on other sites in the context of defence systems in Kent, see (10).

Built as part of the Grain fortifications, it was designed as an auxiliary battery to Grain Fort [TQ 87 NE 8]. Constructed 1km south of the fort it was originally named Grain Battery (changed to Dummy Battery in 1901). It was connected to the Fort via a causeway [TQ 87 NE]. The battery was completely rebuilt to house new guns in the 1904-1905 and provided with an attendant magazine, shelters, command post, direction finding equipment and searchlights. During the First World War Anti Aircraft guns were installed to defend Grain Air Station to the south [TQ 87 SE 159]. Dummy Battery had no weaponry after the first world war. The original design consisted of a J-shaped earthwork, with gun emplacements and a ditch, surrounding a large bomb proof mound. This mound covered the magazine, stores and shelters of the battery. The early twentieth century redesign occupied half the space of the former battery and three new buildings were added behind the earthwork. The Battery was severely damaged by demolition work and excavation for materials between 1953-1955, the bomb proof mound almost entirely removed. The report details the surviving elements of the redesigned battery. [11].

Walkover survey: FORTIFICATION WITH AT LEAST TWO PHASES IDENTIFIED. 1905 MARKED ON CONCRETE STRUCTURE. MOAT NOTED TO EAST AND SOUTH SUGGESTING EARLIER FORTIFICATION [12].

Mentioned in Isle of Grain Historic Area Assessment conducted by English Heritage in 2014. Built in 1867-9 and replanned in 1904 (13).

Historic England, Archive material associated with Grain Tower, Isle of Grain (Archive). SKE54271.

<01> OS 25" 1933 (OS Card Reference). SKE48261.

<02> Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 14 (D Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE43673.

<03> Coast Defences of Eng and Wales 1856-1956 1974 114 (IV Hagg) (OS Card Reference). SKE39034.

<04> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9557.

<05> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9811.

<06> 1942, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9998.

<07> 1942, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10000.

<08> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10235.

<09> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10439.

<10> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD93 (Index). SWX11828.

<11> RCHME, 1998, Coastal Artillery Fortifications on the Isle of Grain, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE12515.

<12> Wessex Archaeology, 2001, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Phase II: Preliminary Field Investigation (Unpublished document). SWX11839.

<13> English Heritage, 2014, Isle of Grain, Hoo Peninsula, Kent: Historic area assessment (Monograph). SKE29397.