Monument record MWX43455 - WWII defences at Richborough Amphitheatre

Evidence for the use of the amphitheatre at Richborough as a defensive position during WWII has been seen on 1940s RAF vertical aerial photographs of the site [1-2].

The defensive features recorded at this location include a probable machine gun emplacement dug into the southern side of the amphitheatre [1], a line of barbed wire entanglement on the north side of the amphitheatre and further stretches of barbed wire entanglements to the south of the amphitheatre [2]. A length of slit-trenching, lying between two lines of entanglements to the south of the amphitheatre, had already been recorded within the HER as TR 35 NW 113, see Related Monuments. This feature is presumably part of the same defensive scheme. These features are also one of several WWII defensive features recorded around of Richborough fort, see Related Monuments.

The barbed wire entanglements were removed following the war and are not visible on late 1940s RAF vertical aerial photographs [3]. The gun emplacement appears to have also been infilled by this date and is visible only as a shallow depression on these photographs [3]. It appears to have since been totally levelled as no surface trace of the feature is visible on recent aerial photography [4].

The gun emplacement was recorded as part of the Richborough Environs Project (2002) whilst the barbed-wire entanglements were identified by the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment (2009-10), see Associated Events. Features recorded by the former project have been added to the transcriptions produced by the latter and the resulting dataset exists within a GIS layer held by this HER [5]

Historic England archive material: AF00055 Richborough Environs Project A 1:2500 scale air photographic survey of Richborough Roman fort and its environs was carried out as part of a Multi-disciplinary research project initiated by English Heritage Centre for Archaeology. The aim of the project was to establish the extent, morphology and complexity of the settlement in the area under active ploughing between the Saxon Shore fort and the amphitheatre. The combined results of the aerial survey, the geophysical surveys and small scale excavations undertaken by the CfA will be used to improve the interpretation, management and presentation of the site.

<4> Next Perspectives consortium via English Heritage, 2003, 2007, Next Perspective PGA georeferenced aerial photograph data, Tile ref: PGA_TR3259_2003-08-14 (Graphic material). SWX15711.

<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.