By mid September 1941, probably as part of the strengthening of the Canterbury Fortress, a fortified house had been established in a fine brick building which was presumably built as the prison governor’s house on the south side of HM Prison, fronting Longport. Oddly, fire was to be directed westwards down Longport, rather than eastwards toward St Martin’s Hill (whence one might expect invading forces). Perhaps this emplacement was intended to cover the entrance drive to Barton Court, which was an important Defended Locality in Canterbury Fortress. It seems rather less likely that it would have been intended to cover the entrance to the prison, which was used as a Naval Detention Barracks during the Second World War - probably this was a quite separate institution.
Owner : Public
Publicly accessible : No
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : unknown
Date of visit :

Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). SKE15605.

Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee, 01/01/39, Canterbury City Council Emergency Committee Minute Books 1 to 6 (Unpublished document). Ske15605.

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/41, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1941 (Unpublished document). SKE15603.

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/41, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1941 (Unpublished document). Ske15603.

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/42, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1942 (Unpublished document). SKE15604.

Canterbury Fortress headquarters, 01/01/42, War Diary Canterbury Fortress 1942 (Unpublished document). Ske15604.