Monument record TQ 65 NE 95 - Pickett-Hamilton Fort, West Malling Airfield, West Malling

Summary

Pickett-Hamilton Forts were designed in June 1940 by the New Kent Construction Company for the close defence of airfield runways. Each fort consisted of two, vertically sunken concrete cylinders, one inside the other. The inner cylinder or lifting head of this fort remains in its lowered position, flush with the ground surface. The lifting head was designed to be lifted by means of a pneumatic jack and operated by a two man crew, using a Vickers or Bren gun. Three forts were built at West Malling, one remains in situ and one has been removed to Duxford Imperial War Museum in 1983. The location of the third fort is unknown.

Location

Grid reference TQ 6794 5569 (point) Centred
Map sheet TQ65NE
County KENT
District TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT
Civil Parish WEST MALLING, TONBRIDGE AND MALLING, KENT

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

<1> Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2001, WWII Bofors AA Gun Tower, Pickett-Hamilton Fort and Pillbox: West Malling Fighter Station, RSM 34304 - 2 (Scheduling record). SKE7928.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Scheduling record: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 2001. WWII Bofors AA Gun Tower, Pickett-Hamilton Fort and Pillbox: West Malling Fighter Station. RSM 34304 - 2.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (2)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Field Survey of West Malling Airfield, West Malling, Tonbridge and Malling (EKE5832)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: West Malling Airfield, Kings Hill, Kent, Standing Buildings Assessment (Ref: QU-1012/2) (EKE17577)

Record last edited

Sep 30 2019 2:32PM