Lydden Spout Deep Shelter

Situated on the cliffs between Folkestone and Dover. Built during WW2, the Lydden Spout Deep Shelter was part of the site for a battery of six inch long range guns on the cliff tops above the spring known as Lydden Spout. There were also quite a few surface buildings and three underground magazines. Most of the surface building have gone leaving just two which are used as cattle sheds. One interesting feature of this site was the water supply, which I believe came from the spring at the bottom of the cliffs several hundred feet below. A chamber had been hollowed out of the cliff at the base of the spring and ram pumps installed to pump water up to the cliff top. Ram pumps work by using the energy of the flowing water to raise some of the water higher, and need no other power source or engine. Photos taken in Dec.2000.

 

View from cliff top. Entrance is just below chalk outcrop in centre of picture.

 

Entrance has collapsed, but is not completely blocked.

 

Just inside entrance, roof appears to be very unstable and liable to collapse.

 

Further inside tunnels are in good condition

 

Further in the start of the main deep shelter is lined in the usual way

with iron hoops and corrugated galvanized iron curved sheeting.

 

One of the main rooms of the shelter, trunking on floor

was part of ventilation system.

 

View along main corridor with beginning of steps leading to main entrance.

 

Concrete stairs leading up to main entrance, now blocked near surface.

Large pipe on stairs at right is ventilation ducting.

 

One of the main rooms of the deep shelter.

 

View into unlined section of tunnel.