WWII entrances to the Ramsgate underground air-raid shelter tunnel system, surrounding Ramsgate Harbour and mapped from military aerial photographs.

Eight entrances into Ramsgate's Underground Air Raid Shelter tunnel system were mapped using aerial photographs. In general the entrances are 10m long and 3.5m wide and lead down into the tunnels from ground level. The entrances were built in 1939 after war was declared and were later abandoned or temporarily used as railway tunnels. The entrances were mapped from aerial photographs taken in January 1941 and were mainly mapped from a series taken in February 1941 [1 & 2].

More information about the underground tunnels can be found at the websites listed in the sources; all accessed on the 25-Feb-2010 [4, 5, 6].

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

The entrance to the Second World War air raid sheler tunnel system is visible as a structure on RAF/HLA/380 614 - 619 15-DEC-1941. The features are demolished in the latest Next Perspectives APGB Imagery TR3565 14-APR-2015. [7-8]

<4> General websites from the Internet, http://www.undergroundkent.co.uk/reports/ramsgate_tunnels.pdf (Unpublished document). SWX15706.

<5> General websites from the Internet, http://thanetunderground.blogspot.com/2006/05/ramsgate-air-raid-tunnels-railway.html (Unpublished document). SWX15706.

<6> General websites from the Internet, http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/sites/r/ramsgate_air_raid_shelter_and_scenic_railway/index.shtml (Unpublished document). SWX15706.

<7> Historic England Archive, 1941-1960, Historic England Archive RAF vertical aerial photographs, RAF/HLA/380 614 - 619 15-DEC-1941 (Archive). SKE57101.

<8> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery TR3565 14-APR-2015 (Archive). SKE57110.