Monument record TR 36 NE 2688 - Second World War emergency defensive coastal battery, south of Broadstairs Harbour

Dumpton Point Battery - a Second World War emergency coastal battery built as part of Eastern Command's coastal defences. It is located on the coast south of Broadstairs Harbour, and is mapped from military aerial photographs taken in 1942.

The battery is first visible in May 1942 [1] as two structures covered with earth, which would have housed two 5.5-inch guns. The battery measures 85m in length whilst the two rectangular structures beneath measure approximately 10m by 8m. The battery was manned by 230 Battery of 549 Coast Regiment. By April 1946 [2] the earth covering has been removed revealing the structures beneath and on an oblique shot from 1947 [3] the two pintles are still visible beneath the shelters. These structures are entirely gone by February 1950 [4].

Associated with the battery is a large banked gun pits, located less than 20m to the south of the battery.This is first visible in May 1942 [1] and has been backfilled by April 1946 [2].

A transcription of the features recorded from aerial photography exists within a GIS layer held by this HER [5].

<5> Wessex Archaeology, 2009-10, South-East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - Aerial Photographic Transcriptions (Digital archive). SWX15705.

<5> Wessex Archaeology, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document). SKE25955.

<5> Cornwall Council Historic Environment Projects and Gloucestershire County Council, 2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document). SKE25954.

<6> Council for British Archaeology, 2002, Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SKE32029.