WWII coastal defence measure in form of a wire obstacle, situated in the intertidal zone of Pegwell Bay, visible on military aerial photographs.

The wire measures almost 2km and when intact would have extended south from the coast at Cliffsend Point through the intertidal zone to a jetty situated beside the northern edge of the River Stour (at 634039, 162215).

It was first visible on, and has been mapped from, military aerial photographs taken in February 1941 [stereopair source 1 and 2], where the wire appears to have been broken away from its fixtures in two places, close to Cliffsend Point. By May 1942 the defensive purpose of the wire has been replaced by beach scaffolding (MWX43182) but it is still visible along the intertidal zone, becoming barely visible by January 1946 [3].

The structural remains of the WW2 beach defences described above were mapped from aerial photographs :RAF/HLA/540 RV 6052 17-MAY-1942 as as part of the Historic England Thanet Landscape Mapping Project 2024. The feature is presume to have been removed. No trace can be seen on Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 05-MAY-2018, but it may still remain buried in accumulated intertidal deposits. (4-5)

<4> Historic England Archive, 1941-1960, Historic England Archive RAF vertical aerial photographs, RAF/HLA/540 RV 6052 17-MAY-1942 (Archive). SKE57101.

<5> Next Perspectives, 2003-2021, Next Perspectives APGB orthophotography, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery 05-MAY-2018 (Archive). SKE57110.