Monument record TR 13 SE 261 - Second World War defended locality, Princess Parade

A Second World War defended locality is visible on aerial photographs on the Princess Parade road and promenade between Hythe and Sandgate and has been mapped as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey NMP. The defended locality extends from TR TR17025 34414 to TR 18839 34858 and was visible on photographs taken in 1941. This long stretch of defended coastline comprises of regularly spaced small one-man sized pillboxes along the road, with a roadblock at either end; barbed wire obstructions are located along the promenade and five rectangular structures similar to that described in Monument Number 1424678 are also visible behind Princess Parade and spaced at intervals. The rectangular buildings, possibly functioning as ammunition storage or acting as air raid shelters are located at TR 17294 34524, TR 17323 34529, TR 17918 34672, TR 18158 34727 and TR 18644 34829. Standard design pillboxes are also located along the promenade and have been recorded separately. The fixed defences located in the centre of the road appear to have been demolished by June 1942, but the others remained until the end of the war when they too were demolished. A ground shot view of the defences looking towards Hythe is available on the Kent History Forum. (1-2)

<1> RAF, 1942, NMR RAF/HLA/549 6004-6010 01-JUN-1942 (Photograph). SWX23929.

<2> RAF, 1941, NMR RAF/26H/UK/1443 3288-3298 02-FEB-1941 (Photograph). SWX23838.