Source/Archive record (Bibliographic reference) SKE31599 - Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes. Research Report 9-2014.

Title Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes. Research Report 9-2014.
Author/Originator
Date/Year 2014
ISSN 2046-9799
ISSN 2046-9802

Abstract/Summary

The Second World War stop line between Hoo St Werburgh and Higham Marshes is a notable surviving example of anti-invasion defence. It is the northern section of the Newhaven-Hoo General Headquarters (GHQ) Line where it crosses the Hoo Peninsula in Kent between the rivers Medway and Thames. It is an important remnant of the Second World War defended landscape of the peninsula and is a well-preserved example of this type of defence, which is part of a major chapter in the national story. The surviving remains form a coherent pattern of defence linked to the local topography and connect our perceptions of the current landscape with the fear of invasion experienced by a previous generation. The line was part of a national network of defences and was constructed in July and August 1940 to hinder invading forces from the Kent and Sussex coast. The defensive line used natural and manmade obstacles connected by sections of anti-tank ditch. The line was heavily defended and included pillboxes, anti-tank gun emplacements and road blocks. The surviving parts of the stop line, including buried and surface remains of the anti-tank ditch, provide a coherent and legible picture of how these defences were intended to work. The stop line was identified for further work during the English Heritage Hoo Peninsula Historic Landscape Project. This report describes the elements that make up the line on the Hoo Peninsula, recorded principally from 1940s aerial photographs, and includes an assessment of current survival from recent aerial photographs and field visits.

External Links (0)

Description

Research Report Series 9-2014

Location

Kent County Council Heritage 2016/49

Referenced Monuments (105)

  • A probable Type 28A Second World War pillbox or anti-tank gun emplacement to the west of the Second World War Stop Line in Cliffe Woods. Since removed (Monument)
  • A rectangular structure, probably a Second World War anti tank gun emplacement or pillbox, is visible on aerial photographs (Building)
  • Air raid shelter, Lodge Hill Anti-Aircraft Battery, Hoo St Werburgh (Building)
  • Anti tank Blockhouse, near Hoo Flats, Hoo St. Werburgh (Listed Building)
  • Anti tank obstacle blocks located by Hoo Flats, Hoo St. Werburgh (Listed Building)
  • Anti-tank pillbox, Berry Court Wood, Cliffe (Building)
  • Anti-tank pillbox, Deangate, Hoo St Werburgh (Building)
  • Earth banking adjacent to the Second World War Stop Line on the Hoo Peninsula, between Lodge Hill and Wybornes Wood. (Monument)
  • Earthbanking associated with a section of the Second World War Stop Line, Hoo Peninsula, running from the railway near Newlands Farm, north to quarry. (Monument)
  • Earthwork banking adjacent to part of the Second World War Stop Line from south-east of Ratcliffe Highway to Deansgate Sports Ground, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Earthwork banking. Part of the Hoo Second World War Stop Line, located north of Lodge Hill Depot, between the Lodge Hill Woods and Wybornes Wood. (Monument)
  • Earthwork banks associated with part of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, between Lodge Hill Wood and Berry Court Wood. (Monument)
  • Earthwork banks associated with the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula, section from north of Deangate Ridge north to the railway line. (Monument)
  • Extent of flanking cleared area around section of Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, between Lodge Hill Wood and Berry Court Wood. (Monument)
  • First World War redoubt, adjacent to Hoo Peninsula Stop Line, may have been reused in Second World War, located between Lodge Hill Wood, Wyborne Wood. (Monument)
  • First World War redoubt, part of it reused to site a Second World War Type 24 pillbox (recorded as separate HER reocrd). East of Lodge Hill Depot. (Monument)
  • Flanking areas around a section of the Second World War Stop Line, north and west of Buckland Farm, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Flanking cleared area around section of Second World War Stop Line, from north from Deangate Ridge to the railway, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Flanking cleared area around the Stop Line of the section of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, running from the River Medway to Stoke Road (Monument)
  • Flanking cleared area around the Stop Line of the section of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, running from the River Medway to Stoke Road (Monument)
  • Flanking cleared area of part of the Stop Line from south-east of the Ratcliffe Highway to the Deansgate Sports Ground, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Flanking cleared area of the Hoo Peninsula Stop Line: section from Lodge Hill to Wybornes Wood. (Monument)
  • Flanking cleared areas for the section of the Second World War Stop Line in the Hoo Peninsula, from the railway near Newlands Farm north to the quarry (Monument)
  • Footings for an anti-aircraft battery located at Lodge Hill Anti-aircraft battery. Possibly pre-First World War or First or Second World War date. (Monument)
  • Four concrete blocks - part of anti-tank defences for the Second World War Stop Line, Hoo Peninsula. Since removed. (Monument)
  • Gun emplacement or searchlight battery of uncertain date, located in the site of the First World War Lodge Hill Anti-aircraft battery. (Monument)
  • Higham Creek Second World War anti-invasion obstruction, Higham Creek (Building)
  • Infantry pillbox, north of Yew Tree Lodge, Hoo St Werburgh (Listed Building)
  • Infantry type 24 pillbox, northern edge of Berry Court Wood, Hoo Peninsula (Building)
  • Line of the anti-tank ditch, part of Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, north of Lodge Hill Depot, between Lodge Hill Wood and Wybornes Wood. (Monument)
  • Line of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line from the River Medway to north-east of Hoo St Werburgh (Monument)
  • Part of Hoo Peninsula Stop Line from Lodge Hill to Wybornes Wood, Hoo Peninsula (Monument)
  • Part of the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line, running from Lodge Hill Wood to Berry Court Wood, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Part of the Hoo Peninsula Stop Line running from South-east of Ratcliffe Highway to Deansgate Ridge Sports Ground (Monument)
  • Plinth of Type 24 Pillbox, north of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building)
  • Possible First World War redoubt, later reused for Second World War defences as part of the Hoo Peninsula Stop Line, north of Lodge Hill Depot. (Monument)
  • Possible hexagonal Second World War pillbox located on a north west facing slope near north-west corner of Lodge Hill Armaments Depot, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Possible post medieval wood banks, located to the east of the Lodge Hill Anti-Aircraft battery, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Possible Second World War circular Type 25 pillbox near Lodge Hill Lane and the north west corner of Lodge Hill Ordnance Depot, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Probable First World War origin buildings and structures at the Lodge Hill Anti-aircraft battery, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Probable Second World War anti-tank gun emplacement or pillbox at the edge of Ratly Hills Wood, near Cliffe Woods (Monument)
  • Probable Second World War anti-tank gun emplacement or pillbox located near the end of a section of the Second World War Stop Line. Since removed. (Monument)
  • Probable Second World War pillbox located in the garden of the Old Rectory, Rectory Road, north of Cliffe Woods. (Monument)
  • Road block, N of Yew Tree Lodge, Hoo St Werburgh (Building)
  • Second World War anti-tank blocks positioned near West Court Farm, Cliffe (Monument)
  • Second World War artillery pillbox located to the east of the anti-tank ditch, near Rectory Road, Cliffe Parish. (Building)
  • Second World War circular Type 24 pillbox, near Lodge Hill Lane, to the north of the Lodge Hill Ordnance Depot, Hoo Peninsula. (Building)
  • Second World War defence locality at Lodge Hill Anti-aircraft battery - with gun emplacements, military support buildings, barbed wire enclosure. (Monument)
  • Second World War defensive pillbox, Buckland Road, Higham (Monument)
  • Second World War features relating to the Second World War Stop Line, defences of Lodge Hill Depot, at the First World War Anti-Aircraft battery site. (Monument)
  • Second World War gun emplacement or light anti-aircraft battery on Rough Shaw, in the Lodge Hill First World War anti-aircraft battery. (Monument)
  • Second World War military support buildings, part of the Stop Line defences in the Hoo Peninsula, located north of Ratcliffe Highway, Hoo St Werburgh. (Monument)
  • Second World War pillbox adjacent to the end of a section of the Second World War Stop Line, near Cliffe Woods. Likely removed. (Monument)
  • Second World War pillbox on the western edge of Cliffe Woods, Hoo Peninsula. Since removed. (Monument)
  • Second World War pillbox, Buckland Road, Higham (Building)
  • Second World War pillbox, Gore Green Road, Higham (Building)
  • Second World War Pillbox, Higham Marshes (Monument)
  • Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes, Hoo Peninsula, Kent (Monument)
  • Second World War Type 24 pillbox on the northern edge of Cliffe Woods, Hoo Peninsula. Since removed. (Monument)
  • Second World War Type 24 pillbox, on the western edge of Lodge Hill Wood, on Rough Shaw, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Second World War Type 25 pillbox on Deangate Ridge overlooking Lodge Hill Ordnance Depot, Hoo Peninsula. Since removed. (Monument)
  • Section of the Second World War Stop Line from Deangate Ridge to Higham Marshes, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Section of the Second World War Stop Line to the north and west of Buckland Farm, Higham Marshes (Monument)
  • Site of a possible pillbox, South of Rectory Road, Cliffe. (Monument)
  • Small hexagonal concrete structure, possible Second World War pillbox, north east of the centre of Hoo St Werburgh. Destroyed by 1946. (Monument)
  • Two possible Second World War circular type 25 pillboxes, at the eastern gate of Lodge Hill Ordance Depot, Hoo Peninsula. (Monument)
  • Two Second World War weapons pits, east of Hoo St Werburgh, just south of Abbots Court House. Part of the Hoo Peninsula Stop Line. (Monument)
  • Type 24 Pillbox, Deangate Wood, Hoo St Werburgh (Building)
  • Type 24 Pillbox, east edge of Lodge Hill Wood, Cooling (Building)
  • Type 24 Pillbox, east of Lodge Hill Wood, Cooling (Building)
  • Type 24 pillbox, east of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building)
  • Type 24 pillbox, Guelder Rose Drive, Hoo St Werburgh (Listed Building)
  • Type 24 pillbox, north of A228, Hoo St Werburgh (Building)
  • Type 24 pillbox, north of Ratcliffe highway, Hoo St Werburgh (Building)
  • Type 24 pillbox, north-west corner of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building)
  • Type 24 Pillbox, northern edge of Lodge Hill Wood, Cooling (Building)
  • Type 24 Pillbox, northern edge of Lodge Hill Wood, Cooling (Building)
  • Type 24 pillbox, Rough Shaw, Cooling (Building)
  • Type 24 pillbox, south of Ratcliffe Highway, Hoo St Werburgh (Building)
  • Type 24 Pillbox, south of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building)
  • Type 24 pillbox, south of Yew Tree Lodge, Hoo St Werburgh (Listed Building)
  • Type 24 Pillbox, south-east of Wybornes Wood, High Halstow (Building)
  • Type 24 Pillbox, West of Deangate Ridge Sports Centre, High Halstow (Building)
  • Type 28 A pillbox, Guelder Rose Drive, Hoo St Werburgh (Listed Building)
  • Type 28A anti-tank pillbox, Abbots Lodge House, Hoo St Werburgh (Listed Building)
  • Type 28A Pillbox, Deangate Wood, Hoo St Werburgh (Building)
  • Type 28A Pillbox, east of First World War redoubt, Cooling (Building)
  • Type 28A Pillbox, south of First World War redoubt, Cooling (Building)
  • Various defence works related to the Hoo Peninsula Second World War Stop Line between Lodge Hill Wood and Wybornes Wood. (Monument)
  • World War I anti aircraft emplacements, Lodge Hill, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument)
  • World War II anti tank Blockhouse, near Bell's Lane, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument)
  • World War II Anti tank blockhouse, near Eastcroft Farm, Cliffe, comprising pillboxes, transport buildings and military supply buildings. (Monument)
  • World War II anti tank blockhouse, The Old Rectory, Cliffe (Monument)
  • World War II Pillbox at Ratcliffe highway/Deangate Road Junction, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument)
  • World War II Pillbox by Hoo Flats, Hoo St. Werburgh (Listed Building)
  • World War II Pillbox in orchard north of Stoke Road, near White House Farm, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument)
  • World War II Pillbox south of Ratcliffe Highway, Hoo St. Werburgh (Monument)
  • World War II Pillbox west of Abbots Court, Hoo St. Werburgh (Listed Building)
  • World War II Pillbox, Cardens Wood, Cliffe (Monument)
  • World War II Pillbox, Lillechurch Road, Cliffe (Building)
  • World War II pillbox, south of Eastcroft Farm, Cliffe (Building)
  • World War II Pillbox, Town Road, Cliffe (Building)
  • World War II Pillbox, View Road, Cliffe. Since removed. (Monument)
  • World War II Pillbox, west of Town Road, Cliffe (Building)
  • World War II Pillbox, west of Town Road, Cliffe (Monument)

Referenced Events (1)

  • EKE15035 Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project, Kent: Second World War Stop Line: Hoo St Werburgh to Higham Marshes, Archaeological Report (Ref: 9-2014)

Record last edited

Jan 3 2025 11:46AM