Monument record TR 16 SW 100 - Second World War Heavy anti-aircraft gun emplacement near Hothe Court Farm, Blean

There was a large Second World War heavy anti-aircraft gun emplacement in a field immediately to the north of Hothe Court Farm. This is clearly visible on immediate post-war aerial photographs, as eight or so large chalky scars in the broader southern half of a tapering field. This was in existence (designated ‘CN3’) by 20 May 1942, when it housed four 3.7 inch guns, and GL Mk IA radar. Apparently, when the battery left the site c. 1943 or 1944, Nissen huts and telephones etc. were just left behind. There seems to have been a Searchlight emplacement (as a discrete entity) mid-way along the north-east edge of the same field (see separate entry). (Interestingly, by c. 1941, German intelligence suspected the existence of an anti-aircraft gun at Hothe Court, a little under a kilometre to the south - is it possible that they had been told the place-name ‘Hothe Court’, but had chosen the wrong one?).
Owner : Private
Publicly accessible : Unknown
How accessed for survey :
Tourism Potential :
Condition : Destroyed
Date of visit :

Site of Second World War heavy anti aircraft battery near Hoathe Court Farm. It was armed with four 3.7-inch mobile guns with GL Mark IA radar in 1942, and manned by 452 Battery of the 104th Royal Artillery Regiment. (5)

<1> John Herbert, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). Ske15228.

<2> CBA Twentieth Century Defences in England I.3 Anti-aircraft artillery, 1914-46 (Bibliographic reference). Ske15227.

<3> John Herbert, Verbal Communication (Verbal communication). SKE15228.

<4> CBA Twentieth Century Defences in England I.3 Anti-aircraft artillery, 1914-46 (Bibliographic reference). SKE15227.

<5> Dobinson, C, 1996, Twentieth century fortifications in England, volume 1. Anti-aircraft artillery : England's air defence gunsites, 1914-46 (Monograph). SWX23706.