Cropmark of a First or Second World War trench system, to the east of St. Nicholas at Wade, visible as a cropmark in aerial photographs of 1946/7. (1)

Revetted slit trenches and other defensive features of Second World War date were visible as earthworks and structures on RAF/HLA/383 RS 958 28-DEC-1941 and RAF/HLA/380 STBD 958 15-DEC-1941 and as cropmarks on Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 14-APR-2015. This site is positioned at the south-west end of a long, linear defensive trench system (MKE93223) and forms part of the St Nicholas at Wade Defended Area established between 1940 and 1941.

The site is positioned to defend the eastern entrance to the village. On the east side of Canterbury Road it includes a complex trench network with T-trenches and two hexagonal strong points or section posts on the east side. Each section post has nine or ten shallow slit trenches dug into the east-facing revetment, presumably providing firing positions for platoon members. Other hollows in revetted areas likely provide similar cover. A small hut with a blast wall to its south side stands behind the section posts on their western side.

A short section of crenellated slit trench to the north of this system that appears as a cropmark (Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 14-APR-2015) was possibly connected, but this do not appear as an earthwork on the photographs taken in December 1941. Either it was an earlier component of the defensive system that was rapidly infilled, or was added later. There is a slight pale surface mark in this location in USAF aerial photographs dating to April 1944, suggesting the latter interpretation.

The trench network continues on the west side of Canterbury Road, following the northern edge of a former chalk pit and forking into two sections to north and south. It includes a number of T-trenches and articulates with barbed wire entanglements (MKE124385).

All traces have been infilled or removed (Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021) with some elements visible as cropmarks (Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 14-APR-2015). The features were mapped as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. (2-5)

<1> RAF, 1946/7, 1946/47 RAF aerial photograph run, r54photo3025 (Photograph). SKE31381.

<2> Historic England Archive, 1941-1960, Historic England Archive RAF vertical aerial photographs, RAF/HLA/383 RS 958 28-DEC-1941 (Archive). SKE57101.

<3> Historic England Archive, 1941-1960, Historic England Archive RAF vertical aerial photographs, RAF/HLA/380 STBD 958 15-DEC-1941 (Archive). SKE57101.

<4> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 14-APR-2015 (Archive). SKE57110.

<5> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021 (Archive). SKE57110.