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Wanstone Rediscovered

Image showing one of the 15-inch guns installed at Wanstone, Dover during the Second World War
Figure 1: One of the 15-inch cross-channel guns installed at Wanstone, near Dover, Kent in May 1942, just prior to commissioning | © Lt. Tanner - War Office official photographer - public domain image obtained via Wikimedia Commons

During the Second World War, The White Cliffs of Dover became the focus for an unprecedented land-based artillery installation. After the war, some sites were demolished, others covered up, while many were left derelict for nature to reclaim. Our project aims to conserve Wanstone and Fan Bay, the most important and well-preserved parts of the site, and to create an experience that can be enjoyed by generations to come.

May - June 2025

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Defence, attack and disuse

Since before Roman times, the coast of south-east England has been the subject of many hostile invasion attempts. In the early days of the Second World War, with German forces just 20 miles away, the section of coast to the east of Dover now presented unique opportunities for the British. Previously used mainly for defence, land-based heavy artillery would be used for attacking shipping across the entire width of the Dover Strait and could duel with enemy positions in France. The gun batteries at Wanstone, on The White Cliffs of Dover held the largest, longest-range breech-loading weapons ever installed on mainland Britain. These huge guns could fire a shell weighing 1938lbs (900kg) 26 miles (41km) and saw much action during the War. They were installed along with an extensive network of smaller anti-shipping and anti-aircraft artillery that defended against invasion, and controlled the Dover Strait and a key air route for attacks on London.  

Post-War

When peace returned, many of the guns fell silent. A few were initially kept for training duties but by the mid-1950s, those remaining had either been put into storage, or were cut up for scrap and the sites returned to agricultural use. Although the guns had been removed, much of the infrastructure remained. Some of the military roads were broken up to allow ploughing, but many of the massive, reinforced concrete and brick structures were too costly to demolish. These were buried where possible, or were left to ultimately be reclaimed by nature, often becoming vandalised in the process.  

You can read more about the history of the gun batteries on the Wanstone site: Wanstone Battery, D2 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery and Fan Bay Battery in our brief history articles.

Image of all that was visible of the 15-inch gun mounting for Wanstone gun no. 1 when discovered in 2017.  Only the very top of the sloped hold-fast for the gun can be seen
Figure 2: The only visible sign of the 15-inch gun mounting for Wanstone no. 1 gun as discovered in 2017. A small piece of the massive holdfast could be seen - the rest was buried | © NT/Richard Meadows - Licensed CC-BY-4.0

A hidden treasure awaits

In 2017, the private land upon which the Wanstone cross-channel guns, the D2 Heavy Anti-aircraft and the Fan Bay batteries were sited, was acquired by the National Trust. A series of surveys and exploratory excavations revealed 25 military structures, across an area of approximately 0.4 sq. miles,  (1 sq. km), some in a remarkable state of preservation.

Since acquiring the sites, we have cut back and removed damaging and invasive vegetation in a way that is sympathetic to the resident wildlife. We are committed to managing the countryside within the battery sites to improve the ultimate habitat and biodiversity. 

A project to stabilise the visible structures and to rediscover those that had been buried was proposed.  Despite delays due to Covid-19, in January 2022, the National Lottery Heritage Fund kindly awarded us a substantial grant and with the generosity of our private donors and support from local business, the project became viable.

The project officially started on 1 July 2022 and will be delivered by existing and new volunteers who will be recruited locally.

Image showing the concrete foundations of the 15-inch gun emplacement 'Jane'
Figure 3: Excavation in July 2022 reveals the full extent of the 'Jane' emplacement. The small section of concrete showing in figure 2 is a part of the conical structure in the centre of the emplacement that held the axial pivot for the gun. | © NT/Gordon Wise Licenced CC-BY-4.0

The Wanstone Rediscovered project - timeline and blog

May / June 2025

Protecting and rebuilding the brickwork

We’re proud to share recent conservation work carried out by our dedicated team of volunteers—made possible through the generous support of our partner organisations. A key milestone was the application of Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream to the newly repaired brickwork on the magazine buttresses. Supplied by our partner, Safeguard Europe, this specialist treatment penetrates deep into the masonry, forming an invisible water-repellent barrier. It helps protect the now porous bricks from frost damage and delamination, ensuring long-term preservation. All eight buttresses—two per magazine—have now been treated and this should now protect these historic structures for decades to come.

After the guns were dismantled in 1957, the site returned to agriculture. While no buildings were fully demolished, many were buried under soil to maximise farmland. In some cases, parapets and other features were removed to reduce the depth of cover. The Clem gun store was one such structure, completely buried until its excavation in 2024. Volunteers have since reinstated its parapet, restoring the building’s original profile and improving its resistance to the elements. This careful reconstruction enhances the site’s visual integrity and honours its wartime heritage.

We’re immensely grateful to everyone who has contributed to this journey—from suppliers and supporters to the volunteers who continue to bring Wanstone’s story back to life, in some cases, quite literally, one brick at a time.

Download images: Upper Lower

National Trust volunteers applying Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream to the brick buttress walls of the entrance to one of the Wanstone magazines
Applying Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream to the brick buttress walls of one of the Wanstone magazines | © National Trust/Peter Goodwin
A bricklayer working on repairing the parapet wall of the Clem gun store, which was demolished when the site was covered over in the 1960s
Rebuilding the parapet wall of the Clem gun store. | © National Trust/Peter Goodwin

Our project

Wanstone Rediscovered is a project that concentrates on the area where many wartime structures remain substantially intact.  Wanstone is a time capsule from the darkest days of the Second World War and the Wanstone and D2 batteries are rare survivors from the Eyesore Clearance Programme in the 1970s.   

From neglect to a new future

Led by the National Trust and supported by a £199,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, local businesses, donors, and volunteer effort, the project aims to excavate and stabilise this important site. We'll achieve this whilst working with and upskilling volunteers from the local community. This is aimed to be mutually beneficial, both to the National Trust, and to candidates who need extra support and experience. 

The three key aims of the project are: 

  • Archaeological – excavation on three clusters of structures 

  • Conservation – urgent work targeted on waterproofing and stabilisation 

  • Participation – a community / volunteer led project offering training and experience 

Visiting the site

The Wanstone site is currently fenced off - please don't attempt to access the site yourself as there are deep excavations and surface obstructions, many left from the 1950s, which may cause injury. We'll continue to host a series of open days during the project where we will welcome you, share the history of the site and the progress we have made. Watch our blog (above) and our White Cliffs of Dover homepage and Facebook pages for details of the next open days. Access for special interest groups can be arranged - please contact us well in advance using the 'Get in touch' details on the White Cliffs of Dover homepage.

This is an initial phase of a much larger scheme to bring the gun batteries back to life, not in a literal sense, but through the powerful histories these structures will reveal. Today we can only marvel at the speed and craftsmanship of those who did so much, in so little time, to defend our country. Uncovering and conserving these remains will help us to tell the story of a momentous time in the history of this corner of England. We hope that some permanent public access will eventually follow in the future, and in this way, the memories of those who served here can live on. 

Download our pictures

Most of the images we feature on these pages are available to download in original resolution, either from our Flickr site or from the source on the links below. Please observe all license conditions. Images open in a separate window.

Figure 1
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Can you help us? (image below)

Image of one of the overgrown D2 heavy anti-aircraft gun emplacements and showing the shell stores that would have stood adjacent to the gun

Can you help us?

All the work so far has only been possible due to the efforts of local volunteers. We are always looking for people to join our friendly team. Our plans are ambitious and will use many hours of volunteer time as well as a wide range of physical skills and knowledge. We welcome both individual volunteers and organisation/corporate volunteer groups so could you give some of your knowledge, time and energy to this fascinating and worthwhile project?

Our partners

Heritage Fund

Inspiring, leading and resourcing the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future.

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Rhino Plant Hire

Rhino Plant Hire was established in 1993 by Neil and Kim Morgan. Neil worked for several big companies in the South East of England before deciding to set up his own company. The company undertakes a variety of work such as agriculture contracting, working in quarries with heavy plant and machinery and low loader work.

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Isle Heritage CIC

Isle Heritage CIC is a community interest company, founded in 2021 and based in Sandgate, near Folkestone, Kent. The company employs a small team of experienced archaeologists, and aims to deepen and enrich people's connections to, and appreciation of, the natural and cultural heritage of the places where they live, work, or visit. This is achieved through a wide range of activities, including archaeological fieldwork and research, educational activities, displays and events, and publication.

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Connected Roots

We design and deliver bespoke, participant-led group and team projects through hands-on learning experiences within natural environments, using bushcraft techniques. We believe by offering such experiences, people can enhance their connection with others and discover or rediscover their individual connection to nature. We hope this will also foster a deeper sense of care and respect for the land, including a shared ‘Leave no Trace’ philosophy.

Brickguru.com

The Brick Guru specialises in brickwork and we are based locally in River, Dover. We strive for perfection and endeavour to leave a legacy of first-class brickwork. We were pleased to support the Wanstone Rediscovered Project and undertook significant brick repairs to the historic magazines on site.

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KURG

The Kent Underground Research Group (KURG) is a charity, formed in 1981 to carry out research into the origins, use and history of the many subterranean features of Kent and the Southeast. Members have a unique mixture of practical and academic skills. The group carries out surveys of underground structures and research into old records, including interviews of those who may have memories of workings. These are brought together to publish history of sites in the Group’s research reports. Although Kent is a primary focus, the Group has been called to places as far away as Sussex and Berkshire.

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Safeguard Europe

Founded in 1983, Safeguard Europe manufactures and supplies building protection products worldwide. Key product areas include damp proofing, timber preservation, structural waterproofing and masonry repair systems. Product quality, consumer education and customer support form the pillars of our company mission. We offer free CPD webinars throughout the year to educate professionals and homeowners alike about dampness in buildings. We have supplied the Wanstone Rediscovered project with products including Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream to assist with conservation of the brick buttresses.

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Wanstone Battery - a brief history 

We trace the history of the Second World War cross-channel guns 'Jane' and 'Clem'. Be amazed by the staggering size and capability of these weapons from over 80 years ago.

Black and white image of 15-inch gun Clem taken just prior to commissioning in May 1942

D2 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery - a brief history 

Find out more about the D2 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery at Wanstone, near Dover, how it was built, the important role it played in the Second World War and what the remains tell us.

Image showing the Command Post at D2 shortly after the acquisition in 2017

Fan Bay Battery - a brief history 

Established on the orders of Winston Churchill, Fan Bay was one of a series of coastal gun batteries that defended the English coast during the Second World War. Find out more about the guns, their emplacements and the infrastructure that supported them; and how the battery fell into disuse, dereliction, was covered over and destined to be forgotten. This is the story of Fan Bay Battery and how it was rediscovered.

Aerial view of two concrete gun emplacements surrounded by grass

Fan Bay Deep Shelter and gun emplacement at The White Cliffs of Dover 

Explore Fan Bay Deep Shelter, the sound mirrors and gun emplacement in an immersive, hard-hat and head torch tour with our expert, friendly guides.

The interior of Fan Bay Deep Shelter in The White Cliffs of Dover in Kent, showing its arched corrugated steel construction

Eating and shopping at The White Cliffs of Dover 

Stop for freshly made refreshments with a view at the famous White Cliffs of Dover. Browse the shop for souvenirs, gifts and items from local makers.

A stylised photograph looking down on table with a cream tea for two, with scones and jam and mugs of tea.

Things to see and do at The White Cliffs of Dover 

Discover what there is to do and see at The White Cliffs of Dover. From cliff top walks to wildlife spotting and exploring wartime tunnels, there's lots to keep you busy.

Two people admiring the view of the sea from the clifftop at The White Cliffs of Dover, Kent, on a sunny day.

History of The White Cliffs of Dover 

Discover the history of The White Cliffs of Dover. From housing a prison to helping the war effort, these famous cliffs have stories to tell.

View from the sea of a stretch of The White Cliffs of Dover, Kent, beneath a blue sky

Volunteering opportunities at the White Cliffs of Dover 

Interested in getting involved at the White Cliffs of Dover? Find out about becoming a volunteer at this special place.

An image of visitors to Fan Bay Deep Shelter being briefed by their guide prior to descending into the tunnels on a sunny day