howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i have a vague memory of hearing about the existence of this, i wonder if our history experts can fill us in on it?
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2012/january/24/wartime_hospital.aspxGuest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
It's an underground dressing station/shelter (every gun battery on the coast had one of these) for the WW2 5.5 inch Capel Coastal Defence Battery that was on the site of this and the Battle of Britain Memorial.
I was helping with the Kent Underground Research Group to excavate it from the cliff exit, but it is mostly collapsed
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
This is where he is excavating what I think is the 3rd gun emplacement down on the top image
Been nice knowing you :)
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,835
If it came the hospital being saved or the ramblers and dog walkers wandering over the whole site, I would side with the hospital.
I wonder if John Button is planning to charge the public when or should that be if the tunnels etc are opened.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 717- Registered: 16 Jun 2011
- Posts: 468
I for one would love to explore anything like that. If it went towards the conservation of the attraction I would pay to do so.
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Keeps politics to myself
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thanks for the info and pictures paul, seems to be an issue about nothing.
there is only one of the two footpaths closed, it is not as if the whole area has been cordoned off.
let's hope we do see it open in the future, the owners says that many of the buildings are in excellent condition.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
How interesting, ohhh yes I'd love to explore somewhere like that.
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Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
There is really zero chance of the shelter becoming accessible as we were just digging through collapse after collapse so people would never get into it, what is being uncovered are the remains of sub-surface shell magazines and buildings so nothing really substantial....
Been nice knowing you :)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Guest 736- Registered: 5 Jan 2012
- Posts: 118
That's a shame, like what was said it would be great if there was a chance that it could be restored, even partly so it could run along with the memorial site.
Shame really and as for ramblers and dog walkers could they just use what is there any way? These people need to stop whining as something as petty as that. If that is all these people have to worry about in life I would seriously do a swap with them! I enjoy a good walk but it wouldn't matter to me when you have that the other side of the fence. Someone who is trying to do something as grand as that should be given all the help that he needs.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
it does seem a pity but the owner has steadfastly refused to obey the law and cordoned off a large area of land intended for use by the general public.
Guest 736- Registered: 5 Jan 2012
- Posts: 118
Rules are rules whether you like them or not. Maybe if he had done it through the right people things might have been different ?
Shame!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
maybe if he had consulted wiith the ramblers association they could have reached an amicable solution?
think i will go and have a look for myself to see how much land he has cordoned off and whether it has adversely affected the walkers.
Guest 736- Registered: 5 Jan 2012
- Posts: 118
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
Yes another example of the tories letting our hospitals fall into disrepair. Whoever let this happen should be stripped of their knighthood if they were given one.
Mind you does anyone think it possible for this site to be put forward as a suitable location for a new hospital for Dover?
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Now there's an idea, at least it's a positive step in the right direction, also being an underground hospital it should save on the heating costs
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, I think I'll ramble down and have a look for myself.