WWII coastal defence features to the west of Ramsgate Harbour visible on military aerial photographs. This small complex of military features comprise a pillbox (Mke39426), three other military buildings, and two gun pits, all of which are partially enclosed with barbed wire.

The pillbox to the east of the monument is hexagonal and is 4.5m wide - more information regarding the pillbox can be found in record Mke39426. Less than a metre to the south of the pillbox is a rectangular military building measuring 6.25m by 3.9m.

Sixty metres to the west of these structures are two circular gun pits surrounded by sandbags in February 1941 [1] and by May 1942 [2] the outer bank looks lower and disturbed. The internal diameter of the western gun pit is 2.7m and the eastern one is 3m. The two features are just over 2m apart.

Lying on the cliff edge is another military building measuring 6m by 3.6m, and 50m to the NW in between two lengths of barbed wire is the last rectangular military building, measuring 6.5m by 5m.

Two lengths of barbed wire positioned in a parallel manner is present in an L-shape enclosing most of the military features, with gaps for movement through. The outer length approximately measures 143m and the inner one measures 70m.

All the features within this complex are first visible in February 1941 [1] and have either been mapped from this photo or a later one taken in May 1942 [2]. These features have all been removed or demolished by January 1946 [3] or April 1946 [4].

Pillbox [shown on German map of British defences]. Pillbox (Sector 7). Cassini ref 817821. At West Cliff, Ramsgate. (1)

The probable Second World War pillbox noted above wasd visible on aerial photographs taken in 1941 at TR 3752 6421 on West Cliff, Ramsgate. This was a rectangular structure, possibly a Type 23 pillbox. It was positioned on the northern side of Prince Edwards Promenade flanked by lines of barbed wire entanglements extending across the road to the cliff edge forming a narrow corridor. Futher lines of barbed wire extended eastwards from the pillbox along the north side of the promenade road and further pillboxes and gun emplacements could be seen extending along the cliff edge in either direction. (2)

Historic England archive material: DEB01 Defence of Britain This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.Box files containing the record sheets gathered from participants in the Defence of Britain Project. The project recorded, with the help of volunteers, the remains of military structures in Britain. The collection is arranged by county and split between anti-invasion and non anti-invasion defences. The record sheets record the visible structures and include location details, structure type and purpose and include photographs.

<2> RAF, 1941, RAF/26J/BR267 12 22-FEB-1941 (Photograph). SKE55747.