There was a Second World War roadblock on the stony track, called ‘New Road’ in Church wood. This was roadblock No. 48 in a list of such structures made 2 December 1940. It comprised two large concrete blocks, one on either side of the track. These survive, and have with slots for a barrier in their opposite faces. ‘The blocks are in fact a single piece of reinforced concrete - when a bulldozer tried to push one over many years ago, the surface of the track started to heave!’ (information Michael Walter). This is interesting for what it tells us about the nature of Sector ‘E’ of the Dover, Canterbury, Whitstable Stop Line in this vicinity (see separate entry). The line is usually stated to follow the edge of the Woods, but this block is some way in. In fact there seems, at some point, to have been a continuous obstacle, composed of felled trees passing through this point. Nichols later recalled: ‘Where the Barrier (as we christened it) came to the New Road, a pair of square concrete blocks was placed, with a slot in the top for fixing steel girders in to form a tank trap ... Small slit trenches were dug in the coppice close to the blocks.’
Owner : Unknown
Publicly accessible : Yes
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : good
Date of visit :

Nichols F., Rough Common in World War Two (Article in monograph). SKE15243.

Nichols F., Rough Common in World War Two (Article in monograph). Ske15243.

Michael Walter, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). SKE15244.

Michael Walter, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). Ske15244.