Old Folkestone Road Magazine

Ammunition Store on exWW2 army land. Site of Hougham Battery. These photos were taken in Dec.1977. There was also a deep shelter just to the west of the ammo store, but I believe that by this time the spoil being dumped on this land had covered the entrances. This was the time of the first serious attempt (in the 1970's) to dig a Channel Tunnel, and before it was abandoned a small hill of spoil had been dumped just off the Old Folkestone Rd near the tunnel entrance (now used as the service tunnel entrance for the current tunnel). The entrance to the ammo store was only just above ground level and was close to being buried as well. At this time (Jan.2001) it is just possible to squeeze through the entrance but the shaft leading down into the lower level is choked with debris and it is not possible to get into the store itself. A Bunker to the south has been completely buried.
For a plan of the Hougham Battery and cliff top emplacements courtesy of Duncan Forrester click here.

 

Friends Darren, Alison and me outside entrance Jan.2001.

 

Under construction 1942. Compare circled entrance to picture below.

Photo courtsey of Paul Wells.

 

Entrance to Ammunition Store.

 

Entrance just visible, foreground is spoil.

 

View up entrance shaft (note rope).

 

At base of entrance shaft, heap of soil has spilled down shaft.

 

View of interior.

 

Main storage chamber.