Monument record TR 02 SE 12 - Acoustic Sound Mirrors at Greatstone-on-Sea, Lydd

Summary

The remains of three large concrete structures, formerly an anti-aircraft Acoustic Detection installation. Microphones were attached to the three reinforced concrete structures in order to pick up the sound of approaching enemy aircraft. The smallest 'sound mirror' was found to be fairly ineffective so it was superseded by a larger dish, 12 m in diameter. This in turn was replaced by a 70m long 'sound wall'. The structures were built by the RAF between 1930-4. They were rendered obsolete by the introduction of radar in 1935, and by advances in aerial technology. Summary from record 462809: Three early Twentieth Century sound mirrors are located at Denge, on the Dungeness peninsula. They are of three different types, representing three successive stages of the development of early-warning anti-aircraft technology. The sound mirrors were rendered obsolete by the development of radar by 1935. The three concrete sound mirrors are clearly visible on aerial photographs of 1946, along with several ancillary structures which have since been removed. These features were all mapped from aerial photographs as part of the South East RCZAS NMP project. The sound mirrors themselves are still extant, and are scheduled under the County Number of KE378.

Location

Grid reference Centred TR 0755 2154 (145m by 174m)
Map sheet TR02SE
County KENT
District FOLKESTONE AND HYTHE, KENT
Civil Parish LYDD, SHEPWAY, KENT

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Type and Period (3)

Full Description

<1> DOE (IAM) Rec Form 4.12.78 (OS Card Reference). SKE40721.

<1> VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION (Unspecified Type). SWX23962.

<2> Mirrors by the sea : an account of the Hythe Sound Mirror System based on contemporary letters and reports, pp 5, 8, 10, 37 (Unspecified Type). SWX23605.

<2> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<3> Kent's Defence Heritage (Unspecified Type). SWX23591.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1928-1947, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947, 1938/1:2500 (Map). Ske12644.

<4> VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION (Unspecified Type). SWX23977.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 2009, OS MasterMap, 2009/MasterMao (Cartographic materials). SWX15710.

<5> Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 7. Acoustics and radar: England's early warning systems 1915-1945, pp 8-19,156 (Unspecified Type). SWX23709.

<6> Vertical aerial photograph reference number (Unspecified Type). SWX23761.

<7> 1946, NMR CPE/UK/1752 3002-3 21-SEPT-1946 (Photograph). SWX23759.

<8> Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Unspecified Type). SWX23619.

<9> Oblique aerial photograph reference number (Unspecified Type). SWX23620.

<10> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date) (Unspecified Type). SWX23649.

Sources/Archives (14)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: DOE (IAM) Rec Form 4.12.78.
  • <1> (No record type): VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION.
  • <2> Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001. Kent's Defence Heritage.
  • <2>XY (No record type): Mirrors by the sea : an account of the Hythe Sound Mirror System based on contemporary letters and reports. pp 5, 8, 10, 37. [Mapped feature: #493 sound mirrors, ]
  • <3> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1928-1947. Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947. 1938/1:2500.
  • <3> (No record type): Kent's Defence Heritage.
  • <4> Cartographic materials: Ordnance Survey. 2009. OS MasterMap. 2009/MasterMao.
  • <4> (No record type): VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION.
  • <5> (No record type): Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 7. Acoustics and radar: England's early warning systems 1915-1945. pp 8-19,156.
  • <6> (No record type): Vertical aerial photograph reference number.
  • <7> Photograph: 1946. NMR CPE/UK/1752 3002-3 21-SEPT-1946.
  • <8> (No record type): Oblique aerial photograph reference number.
  • <9> (No record type): Oblique aerial photograph reference number.
  • <10> (No record type): Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date).

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (3)

Related Events/Activities (3)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Landscapes of War national recording project (Kent) (EKE20813)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Ref: 71330) (EWX10072)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Ref: 71330) (EWX10073)

Related Thematic Articles (1)

Record last edited

Nov 3 2021 6:47PM