Monument record TQ 77 SE 1299 - Beacon Hill Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery

Summary

A First World War anti aircraft battery on Beacon Hill, Hoo Common, overlooking the Medway near Upnor. The battery was planned in about 1912 and built by April 1914. Along with a contemporary installation to the north at Lodge Hill ..., this was one of the world's first permanent anti aircraft defences. The site comprised two circular concrete gun emplacements. Two supporting buildings, one situated between the gun emplacements and one to the west, provided barracks and ammunition storage. A war shelter or pillbox was located to the east, while a second war shelter was built to the west on top of an earlier beacon mound. The western war shelter appears to have served as a battery observation post, and was possibly used during the Second World War. An octagonal concrete observation platform survives with a complete handrail of galvanised water pipe. Seen to be in fair condition during a defence heritage survey in 1995.

Location

Grid reference Centred TQ 7584 7145 (59m by 73m)
Map sheet TQ77SE
County KENT
Civil Parish HOO ST WERBURGH, MEDWAY, KENT
Unitary Authority MEDWAY

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Type and Period (5)

Full Description

01/01/13, Air Ministry record. (Collection). SKE14480.

01/01/13, Air Ministry record. (Collection). Ske14480.

MMRG, 07/07/15, Anti aircraft gun site remains (Photograph). SKE14530.

MMRG, 07/07/15, Anti aircraft gun site remains (Photograph). Ske14530.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11083.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11083.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11083.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11083.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11084.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11084.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11084.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11084.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11085.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11085.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11085.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11085.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11086.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11086.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11086.

1998, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11086.

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

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

<1> Medway Military Research Group, 2008, Discovering and Recording Kent's 20th Century Military and Civil Defences (Medway District) (Unpublished document). SKE32453.

<2> Historic England, Pastscape: the website of the Historic England National Record of the Historic Environment (Website). SKE31906.

Sources/Archives (24)

  • --- Collection: 01/01/13. Air Ministry record..
  • --- Collection: 01/01/13. Air Ministry record..
  • --- Photograph: MMRG. 07/07/15. Anti aircraft gun site remains.
  • --- Photograph: MMRG. 07/07/15. Anti aircraft gun site remains.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/10. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/10. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/10. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/10. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/11. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/11. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/11. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/11. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/8. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/8. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/8. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/8. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/9. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/9. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/9. print.
  • --- Photograph (Print): 1998. Photograph. TQ7571/9. print.
  • <1> Unpublished document: Medway Military Research Group. 2008. Discovering and Recording Kent's 20th Century Military and Civil Defences (Medway District).
  • <1> Index: Victor Smith and Ron Crowdy. Thames Gateway Assesment: Gazetteer of Defence Sites.
  • <1> Index: Victor Smith and Ron Crowdy. Thames Gateway Assesment: Gazetteer of Defence Sites.
  • <2> Website: Historic England. Pastscape: the website of the Historic England National Record of the Historic Environment.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Aug 13 2021 10:42AM