Second World War zig-zag slit trenches and hexagonal strong point. (1)

A slit trench, hexagonal strong point and T-trenches forming part of a Defended Locality of Second World War date were visible as cropmarks in 35256/003 16-JUN-2022 and NMR 3120/1016 06-AUG-1986 and as levelled earthworks in US/7PH/GP/LOC295 V 5006 20-APR-1944. This part of the St Nicholas at Wade Defended Area (constructed during 1940-41) passes from the south side of St Nicholas Roundabout to a defended position about 670m to the south-west, where it is joined to and part of the same system as record MKE80391 (record MKE80391 describes the complex defended position at the eastern entrance to the village).

The trench system has been recorded as both cropmarks from later aerial photographs and as levelled earthworks from USAF images taken in 1944 that show it was going out of use towards the end of the war. All traces have been infilled or removed and are now only visible as cropmarks. 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, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, 35256/003 16-JUN-2022 (Archive). SKE57106.

<3> Historic England Archive, 1920-2024, Historic England Archive Specialist oblique aerial photographs, NMR 3120/1016 06-AUG-1986 (Archive). SKE57106.

<4> Historic England Archive, 1944, Historic England Archive USAF vertical aerial photographs, US/7PH/GP/LOC295 V 5006 20-APR-1944 (Archive). SKE57114.

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