WWII military features impeding access from Ramsgate esplanade up the cliff to Ramsgate town, visible in aerial photographs taken in 1941 and 1942.

A lift is visible in historic mapping from 1938 [1] that connects Ramsgate esplanade to the town above. This lift area was defended during WWII to prevent access up to the town. Two single lengths of barbed wire are visible on either side of the top of the lift in February 1941 [2], but by May 1942 [3] more barbed wire has been added, entirely surrounding the top of the lift, and two lengths of barbed wire has been introduced at the bottom of the lift. A short slit trench, measuring 8m long, and associated bank is also apparent by May 1942 at the corner of the barbed wire at the top of the cliff. All of these features are gone by April 1946 [4].

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

Additional second world war barbed wire obstructions are visible as structures on RAF/HLA/380 929 15-DEC-1941. The features are demolished on the latest Next Perspectives APGB Imagery TR3565 14-APR-2015. These features were mapped as part of the Thanet Landscape Mapping Project. [6-7]

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1928-1947, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 4th edition 1928-1947, 18TR3865, 1938 (Map). Ske12644.

<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2011, South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey - (SE RCZAS) Phase 1: National Mapping Programme Report (Unpublished document).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South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Components 1&2: Results of NMP Mapping (Unpublished document).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> Historic England Archive, 1941-1960, Historic England Archive RAF vertical aerial photographs, RAF/HLA/380 929 15-DEC-1941 (Archive). SKE57101.

<7> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery TR3565 14-APR-2015 (Archive). SKE57110.