During the Second World War, Telephone House (now Becket House), a large newly constructed building (1939) fronting New Dover Road, was a vital communications facility, both military and civilian. It had been adopted as a fortified house by November 1940. (It was fortified house No. 47 in a list of such structures made 2 December that year.) Likewise, early on under the Nodal Point/Canterbury Fortress defence schemes it was designated a defended locality: ‘to be held without withdrawal’ by a special postal unit of the Kent Home Guard - namely ‘B’ Company 25 (36 GPO) Kent Home Guard. It was also specified as a Vulnerable Point (these were ‘factories, establishments or installations [which were considered] important to the national war effort’). In 1942 it was listed as a Type 4 Vulnerable Point - meaning it was not considered a likely air-raid target, but was to be provided with an anti-sabotage guard by ‘Home Guard or armed watchmen in the employment of the establishment concerned’. Besides, for a time, being a fortified house in its own right, it was also defended by at least one, possibly two, fortified houses in the near vicinity. Two new weapon pits are known to have been excavated, to defend Telephone House, late in January 1942.
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :

CBA Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SKE15535.

CBA Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). Ske15535.

43 Division General Staff, 01/01/40, War Diary 43 Division General Staff (Unpublished document). SKE15536.

43 Division General Staff, 01/01/40, War Diary 43 Division General Staff (Unpublished document). Ske15536.

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/41, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1941 (Unpublished document). SKE15537.

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/41, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1941 (Unpublished document). Ske15537.

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/42, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1942 (Unpublished document). SKE15534.

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/42, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1942 (Unpublished document). Ske15534.