Crete Road ROC Post- Folkestone

Sunk into the hilltops to the west of Folkestone is a Royal Observer Corps Post (MAI 50). Folkestone was the master post for two others in the area; Dymchurch and Dungeness. This site was chosen after the first ROC post in Folkestone (built in the 1960's during the cold war) was abandoned due to it's having been built too close to a landslip area. This post was built in 1976 and was one of the last to be built. (It was finally closed in 1991). It would have housed three men. They had only basic instruments to measure the location and size of atomic explosions and there would have been telephone and radio contact with a co-ordination centre. The conditions were pretty cramped as there was only one small room and a cubicle for a chemical toilet at the foot of the entrance shaft. For a very interesting and informative email from David Mapley who served in this post (reproduced with his permission) click here. Photos taken April 2001.

 

The surface features consist of the entrance hatch and ventilation openings.

 

Looking down the entrance shaft from the open hatch.

Note the counterbalance for the hatch cover on the right.

 

At the foot of the steel ladder, on the wall, is the hand pump

to get rid of any water from the sump below.

 

Looking into the one small room of the ROC post.

 

Bench seat and storage locker.

Note carpet on floor.

 

Looking back towards entrance door.

Note 12v emergency lighting, notice board and phone socket on wall.

 

View across room towards door.

Note red box for fire blanket and blackboard on left.

 

Looking through open door into entrance shaft with ladder and pump on wall.

Note grill and sump in floor of shaft, however post was completely dry.

 

Looking back up entrance shaft, hatch nearly closed.