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:
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Archaeological – excavation on three clusters of structures
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Conservation – urgent work targeted on waterproofing and stabilisation
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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.