A small complex of WWII coastal defences located 350m to the north of Little Cliffsend Farm, west of Pegwell, comprising slit trenching with associated gun pits, a pillbox, and another military building, visible on military aerial photographs from 1941 [1] and 1946 [2].

In February 1941 [1] a U-shaped slit trench and associated bank that links up six sub-circular gun pits is visible at the junction between five roads/tracks. The average diameter of the gun pit ditches is 1.6m. A rectangular military building, possibly a pillbox, is located 60m to the NW and measures 4.8m by 3m. The monument record for this building is Mke39697.

By April 1946 [2] a rectangular structure has been constructed at the centre of the now backfilled slit trench system. It is unlikely to be a pillbox due to the late date of construction, but probably still functioned as a defensive measure once the slit trench was out of use. It measures 3.7m by 2.4m

Although visible in January 1946, the two structures are not apparent on the 1:2500 OS mapping dated to 1956-1963 [3].

Pillbox [Sector 7]. Cassini ref 799825. NE of Cliffs End. (1)

The structural remains of the Pillbox described above can be seen at TR 3569 6479 to the norther side of the road, visible on RAF aerial photographs taken in 1946. However, RAF photographs taken in 1941 show the site occupied by an earthwork gun emplacement comprising sit trenches in a U shape with at least 6 firing locations, superceded at some point after this date by the concrete pillbox. (2-3)

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.

<1> RAF, 1946, RAF 106G/UK/1131 4003 17-JAN-1946 (Photograph). SKE58472.

<2> RAF, 1941, RAF/26J/BR267 8 22-FEVB-1941 (Photograph). SKE58473.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1955-79, Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Edition 1955-79 (Map). SWX11834.