Monument record TR 36 NE 2691 - Eight WWII entrances to the Ramsgate underground air-raid shelter tunnel system, surrounding Ramsgate Harbour

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]

One of the tunnels is located in the northern end of the open space at Arklow Square opening onto Victoria Road at TR 3865 6530 visible on aerial photographs taken in 1941. (9) Another tunnel is located in the NW corner of St Luke’s Recreation Ground, off St Luke's Road and Hardnes Road at TR 3848 6554 which was visible on aerial photographs taken in 1941. (10) Another tunnel is located in the SW corner of St Luke’s Recreation Ground, off Boundary Road at TR 3844 6544 and visible on aerial photographs taken in 1941. Another tunnel is located off Boundary Road adjacent to Chatham House Grammar School at TR 3807 6544 visible on aerial photographs taken in 1941. The entrances afforded access to the network of tunnels dug before the war as air raid shelters for the town took the form of an open stairway located in the north-eastern corner of the square. The tunnels still remain, but the entrances are now filled in or covered. This entrance was mapped as part of the Historic England: Ramsgate HAZ project. (9)

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 General websites from the Internet, http://www.undergroundkent.co.uk/reports/ramsgate_tunnels.pdf (Unpublished document).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

<9> RAF, 1941, RAF/HLA/380 619 15-DEC-1941 (Photograph). SKE55745.

<10> RAF, 1941, RAF/HLA/380 614 15-DEC-1941 (Photograph). SKE58501.