Monument record TQ 77 SE 1335 - Part of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, running from Lodge Hill Wood to Berry Court Wood, Hoo Peninsula.

Summary

Part of a Second World War anti tank ditch, constructed in 1940 across the Hoo peninsula from the north bank of the Medway near Hoo St Werburgh to the south bank of the Thames at Higham Creek (Monument 1542577). The ditch across Hoo was part of the system of GHQ Stop Lines designed to halt or delay the advance of a German invasion force landing in southern and south eastern England. The section described in this record ran parallel with the north side of Lodge Hill Ordnance Depot (Monument 1077634). It followed a sharply angled course for 714 metres along the north facing slope of Rough Shaw between Lodge Hill Wood and Berry Court Wood. The woods were also incorporated as part of the defensive line. This part of the anti tank ditch is visible as earthworks on aerial photographs although the first photographs, taken in 1944, show this section already out of use and being backfilled. The other parts of the Stop Line ditch, as well as the many pillboxes, gun emplacements and roadblocks that accompanied it, have been recorded separately. The whole anti tank ditch system on Hoo has been mapped from aerial photographs as part of the English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project.

Location

Grid reference Centred TQ 7560 7414 (577m by 247m) (7 map features)
Map sheet TQ77SE
County KENT
Civil Parish COOLING, MEDWAY, KENT
Unitary Authority MEDWAY

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

<1> historic england, 2014, Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes. Research Report 9-2014. (Bibliographic reference). SKE31599.

<2> RAF, 1944, NMR US/7GR/LOC348 2065 27-MAY-1944 (Photograph). SKE55973.

<3> USAAF?, 1944, NMR US/7GR/LOC348 3062 27-MAY-1944 (Photograph). SKE55978.

<4> RAF, 1953, NMR RAF/82/732 0118 23-FEB-1953 (Photograph). SKE55979.

<5> Foot W., 2006, Beaches, fields, streets and hills: the anti-invasion landscape of England, 1940 (Bibliographic reference). SKE55976.

Sources/Archives (5)

  • <1> Bibliographic reference: historic england. 2014. Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes. Research Report 9-2014..
  • <2> Photograph: RAF. 1944. NMR US/7GR/LOC348 2065 27-MAY-1944. NMR US/7GR/LOC348 2065 27-MAY-1944.
  • <3> Photograph: USAAF?. 1944. NMR US/7GR/LOC348 3062 27-MAY-1944. NMR US/7GR/LOC348 3062 27-MAY-1944.
  • <4> Photograph: RAF. 1953. NMR RAF/82/732 0118 23-FEB-1953. NMR RAF/82/732 0118 23-FEB-1953.
  • <5> Bibliographic reference: Foot W.. 2006. Beaches, fields, streets and hills: the anti-invasion landscape of England, 1940.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project, Kent: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes, Archaeological Report (Ref: 9-2014) (EKE15035)

Record last edited

Apr 30 2024 3:40PM