Help to Discover Swale’s 20th century Defence Sites

The Defence of Swale Project, a new project managed and coordinated by Kent County Council’s archaeologists with the help of leading defence historian Victor Smith, is seeking volunteers to help research and trace the remains of defence sites in Swale. The project has funding through a grant by London Array, the developer of a large offshore wind farm in the Thames Estuary, and aims to uncover the remains of the Borough’s defences, understand how the defence of the area was organised and bring to life the many stories that go with them.

The history of Swale’s defence sites is a fascinating one. Swale played a key role in the defence of the nation in both world wars and was strategically important in the years before and after. The presence of the naval dockyard at Sheerness and the area’s location on the maritime, land and air approaches to Chatham and London ensured that considerable attention was given to its defences. During the project we expect to record the forgotten remains of coastal defences, the naval dockyard, stop lines and pillboxes, gun positions, decoy sites, air raid shelters and much more.

The project aims to fully involve the community in the research and to provide opportunities for everyone with an interest in the history of Swale to contribute and share their discoveries. Already a meeting of the area’s history groups, museums and researchers has expressed overwhelming support for the project and more volunteers and contributors are coming forward as they hear of the project. Within the first month more than 40 sites have been recorded, mainly along a World War I stop line between Sheppey and Maidstone. That research is showing that there was once an astonishing system of trench defences from Detling to the Swale and onto Sheppey, with many features surviving.

As well as research there should be plenty of opportunities to see the results of the work and participate in activities through the course of the project, which aims to be completed in 2014 to coincide with the Great War centenary. The final discoveries will be available to download from the web to help further local research, for schools to use in their curriculum activities and for anyone who is interested in Swale’s history.

We would really like to hear from anyone, individuals or groups, who would like to become involved with the project, whether helping with research, taking part in activities, sharing their stories or simply want to be kept informed about what has been discovered. Please contact Simon Mason at Kent County Council on 01622 221539 or simon.mason@kent.gov.uk.

Fig 1. Rare WWI oval pillbox on the Chatham Land Front, a defensive line that extended between Detling, Swale and onto Sheppey. Maps drawn in 1919 show the defences in incredible detail, down to lines of barbed wire and telegraph poles. Photo: Alan Anstee.
Fig 2. Loop holes in a defended wall, Borden lane in Sittingbourne. Sittingbourne was designated as a defended nodal point in the Second World War.
Fig 3. Wooden anti-bullet splash timbering in the embrasure of another WWI pillbox, showing great preservation.