In February 2001 a subsidence in the front garden of 63 High Street, St Peters revealed a chalk tunnel that extended into the neighbouring gardens of 61 and 65 High Street. Members of the Kent Underground Research Group visited the site and explored the tunnel. The roof of the tunnel lay 4.2 m below the surface which was c. 3 m high and 3 - 4 m wide. A brick wall, apparently containing military loopholes had been built up to roof height across one part of the tunnel which also contained cross passages and adits. Numerous bits of grafitti indicate that the tunnels were used during both World Wars but no purpose was apparent. The researchers therefore suggested that they may have been built as practice tunnels for sappers before leaving for France in the First World War (1).

<1> Kent Underground Research Group, 2001, Caves and Tunnels in South East England Part 15 (Unpublished document). SKE8205.