Second World War trench complex and possible redoubt, St Nicholas at Wade. The trenches define a lozenge-shaped area and are part of the eastern defences of St Nicholas at Wade. (1)

A complex revetted slit trench system of Second World War date was visible as earthworks in RAF/HLA/380 STBD 959 15-DEC-1941. The features were recorded as levelled earthworks on Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021.

The roughly 0.026ha site comprised complex slit trenches on ground immediately to the east of Sun Lane. Two lengthy trenches (which may be linked underground) both had numerous saps and locations where there may have been steps leading into the trenches and/or underground areas. The trench system is revetted. A slight inset in one side of the southern trench may indicate an entranceway into a central covered area. In the December 1941 photography from which it was mapped, most of the site appers relatively recently dug; vegetation has started to colonise less than half the revettments

Local historian Ben Jones reports that 'There are rumours that there was also a small underground encampment near Sun Lane.' The site certainly formed part of the St Nicholas at Wade Defended Area that was established during 1940-41. It was mapped as part of the Historic England Isle of Thanet project in 2024. (2-4)

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

<2> Historic England Archive, 1941-1960, Historic England Archive RAF vertical aerial photographs, RAF/HLA/380 STBD 959 15-DEC-1941 (Archive). SKE57101.

<3> Ben Jones, 2023, St Nicholas at Wade in World War II (Website). SKE57258.

<4> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 07-APR-2021 (Archive). SKE57110.