Red Lion Wharf, a barge dock, is visible in this location on the historic OS maps of the area. (1-3) During the Second World War it was adapted with a coffer dam and gates as a dry dock for the building in 1942-3, of the pre-fabricated army and navy antiaircraft forts which were were towed out and positioned in the Thames estuary. The dry dock was overlooked by construction cranes, store buildings, workshops and air raid shelters. This is an important site which displayed significant technical innovation. The dock was later used for other forms of defence building but its decommissioning date for war construction purposes is not known. The site was infilled post-war and became occupied by Northfleet power station, itself subsequently demolished. Today nothing is extant and the site is currently under development. Tourism Potential : Because of the importance of this site, it would benefit from being memorialised with the placement of an information plaque on one of whichever buildings are constructed there. (4)

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1893-7, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 2nd edition : 1893-1898 (Map). SWX11832.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1905-10, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 3rd edition: 1901-1912 (Map). SWX11833.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1928-1947, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947 (Map). SKE12644.

<4> F.R. Turner, 01/10/95, The Maunsell Sea Forts - parts 1-3 (1994-1995) (Bibliographic reference). SKE13911.