Langdon Bay Searchlight Battery

Situated near the base of the cliffs at Langdon Bay just to the east of Dover Harbour, the searchlight battery is built into the chalk cliffs themselves. Originally there were three (or possibly even four) bays in the cliff face just up from the beach. Just recently there has been one of the cliff falls that are common all along the White Cliffs here and unfortunately the western most emplacement has been destroyed. The searchlight emplacements have half-domed concrete roofs against the cliff and sliding steel shutters arranged in a semicircle looking out to sea. A corridor running parallel to the beach and cut into the chalk behind the battery links the emplacements together. For a map of the Langdon Bay area click here.
Photos taken Feb.2001.

 

Langdon Bay. Searchlights were at base of cliffs in bay.

Building in foreground is observation post at end of tunnel from Langdon Battery.

 

The two remaining searchlight emplacements. The iron ladder is a modern addition.

Original entrance is at top of ladder.

 

Another view from beach. Cliff fall at left of picture has destroyed the third emplacement.

 

View of first emplacement from ladder.

 

First emplacement with Dover Harbour in background.

 

View of searchlight emplacements from bottom of cliff path.

 

View from inside first searchlight room looking towards entrance.

 

View along corridor linking searchlight rooms.

 

View inside first emplacement, note sliding steel shutters.

 

View looking out from second searchlight emplacement.