A Second World War embarkation hard located at Stade Court, Hythe (TR 16288 34120). This was a 4-berth hard that was built between 1942 and 1943 for landing craft carrying troops (LCT). It was controlled by Dover Command. Two further sites in Hythe were located at the lifeboat station (TR 157 339) and Imperial Hotel (TR 168 342). A further five sites at Dover, two sites at Hastings and one at Folkestone have not been traced. Embarkation hards were built by the Admiralty as part of Operation Overlord to load landing vessels in preparation for D-Day and the invasion of occupied Europe. A total of 68 individual hards were constructed between 1942 and 1944 across the southern coast of England in every county between Suffolk and Cornwall. There were two types of embarkation hards: LCT hards for landing crafts for troops and LST hards for landing ships carrying tanks. A standard hard consisted of a rectangular concrete apron that sloped down into the water, which was equipped with steel framed mooring points (known as dolphins) to moor the vessels during loading. Hard sites included access roads to link the hards to public highways, approach roads to accommodate the concentrated heavy traffic and transit areas for marshalling troops, vehicles and equipment. Accommodation and ancillary buildings at hard sites would include offices for embarkation staff; a central control room; a workshop for maintenance crew; stores; a watch hut and a latrine. Sites were also fitted with fuel, lighting and utilities. (1) The description of this site in Source 1 was originally recorded in Monument Number 1470627 by the Landscapes of War recording project. (2) The embarkation hard described above (Source 1) is visible on aerial photographs and has been mapped as part of the South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey NMP. The embarkation hard was located near Stade Court at the junction of Stade Street and West Parade and centred at TR 16288 34120. The embarkation pier extended from TR 16297 34107 inland to TR 16317 34052 seawards. The concrete platform behind it measured 67meters by 47meters. The embarkation hards were subsequently removed on aerial photographs taken in 1959. (3-4)

<1> Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 5. Operation Overlord : embarkation works for the invasion of occupied Europe, 1942-44, pp 6,9,11,14,16,32 (Unspecified Type). SWX23708.

<2> RCHME/EH Aerial Photographers Comment (Unspecified Type). SWX23671.

<3> Vertical aerial photograph reference number (Unspecified Type). SWX23955.

<4> Vertical aerial photograph reference number (Unspecified Type). SWX23873.