Building record TQ 67 SE 368 - Caves converted to air raid shelters, Thong Lane, Shorne, Gravesham

Three 10 foot high cave in a pit to the west of Thong Lane were extended by locals during WW2 to provide air raid shelters.

Post war, two of the caves were filled in but the one closest to the road may still be accessible.
Whilst ploughing in the area of the filled in pits, Mr Beech opened up a hole in the top of the pit and spent the rest of the day filling it in.

'Included in the rubbish that was tipped into the pit were some of the pipe bombs that were dug up from the air field runway. Later on when more of these pipe bombs were found, it was headlines in the local paper and people were evacuated while they were dealt with. No such fuss for the ones in the pit. I don't expect people actually know it happened.'

Source – Shorne Woods Heritage Project, Oral History by Trevor Bent – Oral evidence given by Peter Beech, Memories of Shorne

<1> Kent County Council, 1987-, Kent County Council: holding record (Miscellaneous Material). SKE59004.