Monument record TR 15 NE 834 - Second World War Army headquarters at The Cherries, St Martin’s Avenue, Canterbury

In late 1940 underground battle headquarters were established in a tunnel complex extending under the well-wooded grounds of ‘The Cherries', on St Martin’s Avenue (and an adjoining orchard). Two long, steel-vaulted staircases descended southwards, from the entrances to the east and west of the house, to a complex of large tunnels about 14m below ground. The headquarters comprised two long tunnels extend east-west, connected by three shorter tunnels running north-south. Each of these tunnels had a flat roof, supported on pit props, and was divided into a narrow corridor, adjoined by a series of rooms. A short, steel-vaulted tunnel leading off from the south-east corner of the complex, housed a generator. In defence of the headquarters, in addition, doubtless to earlier weapon pits etc, in 1941 emplacements were constructed for two machine-guns, and a six-pounder anti-tank gun (Military Grid reference R 602762), sited along the eastward boundary of the Cherries, and an adjoining property, directed eastwards across the Outer Perimeter of the Canterbury Fortress (about 160m) away. Parts of the tunnel-complex have collapsed, but other sections survive in excellent condition.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : moderate
Date of visit :

<1> Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/41, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1941 (Unpublished document). SKE15416.

<2> Martin Claridge, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). SKE15419.

<3> John Guy, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). SKE15418.

<4> John Guy, CBA Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SKE15417.

<5> Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/41, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1941 (Unpublished document). Ske15416.

<6> John Guy, CBA Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). Ske15417.

<7> John Guy, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). Ske15418.

<8> Martin Claridge, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). Ske15419.

<9> Council for British Archaeology, 2002, Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SKE32029.