Guess the Place

[John Walker]

Sorry MartinR - I only half answered your question.  Yes, it was a church.

Head for the eastern side of the county.

[MartinR]

But it was a church?  And was it Catholic?

[John Walker]

Last time I saw it, it was boarded up.

[MartinR]

A church somewhere in Kent.  Possibly Catholic.  Is it still in use as a church?

[John Walker]

Next one ...

What is name of building and where?

[johnfilmer]

As part of GHQ Stop Line it would be expected to delay and hopefully compartmentalise invading German troops while mobile Allied defenders could be used to better effect.

The weir and lock probably had some strategic significance in maintaining the river as a navigable route.

[John Walker]

Thanks JohnFilmer.  That seems like a lot of protection for that particular bridge.  I wonder why it was so important?

[johnfilmer]

That's the one JW. The undergrowth obscures it nowadays.

I looked about for context and found this: http://www.pillbox-study-group.org.uk/gazeteer/home-front-defence-sites/england/kent/defending-teston-bridge-kent/

Over to you JW

[John Walker]

There were six pillboxes in the immediate area

Found it. On the A26, opposite the gatehouse to Barham Court, Teston.

51.25616241702654, 0.45048372543646553

[johnfilmer]

There were six pillboxes in the immediate area

[MartinR]

The West Kent Hospital is visible on the 1870 6" OS map as "Genl Hospital (West Kent)".  See https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18.0&lat=51.27465&lon=0.52894&layers=257&b=1&o=100 for the overlay map.

[johnfilmer]

Might help to consider what it might be defending.

[John Walker]

I've found a photo of a similar one near Teston but haven't located it yet?

[johnfilmer]

Not the A20.

[John Walker]

A20?