Rectangular concrete flat, roofed building with traversed E. facing entrance. Interior divided into 2: 1 large room for operating staff with a square observation hatch in the roof and a smaller room for a generator and switch gear. Concrete generator base remains (1). For site in context with others in the inter-tidal zone, see (2) and site photographs (3-6).

TQ 730 785. During the Second world War a Bombing decoy was established on Cliffe marshes on the site of a former Explosives Factory (TQ 77 NW 121). The decoy was a `Q' site, a decoy for Gravesend airfield. On the former explosives factory site a row of paired concrete posts may represent an element of the decoy measures to simulate a working airfield, possibly arranged to support a row of moving lights. A control bunker for the decoy survives off site, to the south of Boatrick House and nearly 200m south of the suggested decoy flare path, on the eastern side of the lane leading to The Poplars (TQ 718 785). Typically it is placed in the hedge adjacent to the lane and is built above ground to avoid flooding.

An inspection of the bunker from the lane's edge suggested it was DREM Q type dating from after 3 September 1941 (when the design drawing for this type was issued. ) and is probably associated with the suggested decoy flare path to the north. More detailed fieldwork will, however, be neeeded to clarify the arrangements of the decoy and to ascertain if the Drem Q site was preceded by an earlier T type decoy. (1-3)

A Second World War 'Q-type' bombing decoy located at Cliffe Marshes (TQ 727 778). It was constructed to deflect enemy bombing from RAF Gravesend. It is referenced as being in use between 01-AUG-1941 to 12-AUG-1942. A further bombing decoy was located at Luddesdown (TQ 688 662). (4)

NGR concords with that given in source 4. (5).

No identifiable structures associated with the WW2 bombing decoy described above could be seen on available aerial photographs when the area was surveyed as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.(6)

No physical evidence for the decoy arrangement (other than the surviving concrete control building to the south) was identified during detailed analytical survey of the former Curtis's and Harvey Ltd chemical explosives factory remains, which cover a vast area adjacent to Lower Hope Point where the decoy was also reportedly located. The paired concrete posts mentioned by Authority 1 are now thought most likely to be the support posts for an elevated pipeline belonging to the factory, rather than relating to the lights of the later decoy. (7a, 7b)

Historic England archive material: AF00164 Dangerous Energy Project - photographs of miscellaneous sites Photography of miscellaneous sites taken for the Dangerous Energy Project without additional survey material. MD003092 Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: TQ 77 NW Material still held by Aerial Survey.

<1> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, Site visit by VTC Smith 1995 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<2> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD121 (Index). SWX11828.

<3> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9449.

<4> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9776.

<5> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9777.

<6> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9448.