TYPE FW3-24 Pillbox - Wickhambreaux Kent

 Type FW3 - 24 pillbox 

This pillbox wasn’t actually on my itinerary, but since I was in the area anyway, I decided to check it out while visiting another location nearby. Most pillboxes look quite similar; the only difference is that some are empty while others still contain remnants of their past. Aside from the graffiti, this one was in better shape than most I have seen, and it also had an interesting information board nearby that provided details about the history of the area and highlighted other pillboxes in the vicinity.

The walk to the pillbox was straightforward, as there was a public footpath that led right to it, and you could also go inside the pillbox to take a look around.

The plaque explains that it was constructed by civilians in the early 1940s and was manned by seven soldiers.

All Saints Chillenden,, Canterbury

 All Saints 

While I was exploring the coastline, I came across several public churches that you could visit during open hours. One of them was a small church called All Saints, located in a village called Chillenden near Canterbury. I have to say, it’s a really lovely little village, and I definitely felt a bit out of place while visiting the church. 

I don’t know why, but I have always enjoyed exploring churches. There’s something about them that fascinates me. While most churches share similar features, each one has its own unique aspects, whether it's the layout, history, or location.

When I arrived at All Saints, I went inside and began taking photos and videos of the church, as I like to document things.

 

So it said that this church dates back to 1180 and has been a Christian place of  worship ever since, 

Battle of Britain hawking - Kent

Battle of Britain Hawking 

I have had this place on my list of places to explore for a long time. While I was out checking out the coastline area, I decided to visit this little museum as well. The day was extremely hot, so the air-conditioned room was quite nice. When I arrived at the museum, I paid for entry, which is £12 for adults and £11 for children over five years old. Unfortunately, you need to leave your phone in your car or hand it over to the reception, as photography is not allowed inside the museum. However, one of the lovely volunteers offered to take me on a tour of the outside so I could get photos of the planes on display. The museum itself is quite interesting and has a lot of history from all over the world, showcasing what people used to use and live with. Many of the items have been donated by families, and the museum sits on the RAF Hawking airfield, so some of the buildings are original from the 1940s. There is a small café on-site that offers good prices and delicious food. The staff in the café are really friendly too. Just make sure to bring your cards, as phones are not allowed while you're sitting in the café inside the museum. We must have spent a good few hours here, and it was just nice to relax and appreciate the history around us.

SSouth Foreland Lighthouse - Dover

South Foreland Lighthouse 

This was our last stop of the day while walking along the White Cliffs of Dover. When we arrived in Dover, we wanted to visit the lighthouse, so we parked in the White Cliffs car park and then walked the 2-3 miles along the cliffs to reach the lighthouse. Along the way, we stopped at the Langdon Battery and the Fan Bay Deep Shelter. We also encountered some cows that seemed quite tame, as they refused to move out of the way for anyone. The walk along the cliffs was lovely, and we were extremely lucky to have good weather on our side. The only downside was that the clocks on our phones kept changing because they kept syncing with French time, which made it a bit confusing as we always thought we were an hour ahead when we weren't!

When we arrived at the lighthouse, we showed them our National Trust pass and were placed on the next tour. We only had to wait around 15-20 minutes before the tour started. I have to say, the tour was quite interesting, and for someone who has visited Dover so many times, I can’t believe I had never been to the lighthouse before.

This lighthouse dates back to Victorian times and was built in 1843. It is said to be the first lighthouse to be built with electric light and also played a role in early radio transmissions.

Langdon Coast Artillery Searchlights, & fan bay deep shelter

 Langdon Searchlight & Fan Bay Deep Shelter 

The last time I explored the Langdon Searchlight was in 2019, after it was dug out by the National Trust. I thought it would be a good idea to check it out again with my friend and my daughter. I have to say, exploring it on an extremely hot day was not the best idea. The walk down to it was horrible; I had forgotten how steep the zigzag path was. However, once we got down there, it was nice, and the view was beautiful. My daughter wanted to go to the beach, but the tide was still rough and going out, so I didn't want her going down to the beach. The Langdon Searchlight was first built in 1909 and was used to watch out for warships. By the time World War II happened, another searchlight was added, and they were all connected via a chalk tunnel. Sadly, one of the searchlights was destroyed in the early '90s after a rockfall occurred. Then, in 2013, another rockfall happened, causing the footpath to be completely shut off for anyone trying to get down to it. The National Trust made a new access tunnel for people to go down to the beach and enjoy it.

The overall experience was really good, and it was a great day out despite the heat. We will need to revisit to see the boat later.

Fan Bay Deep Shelter 

I have explored the Fan Bay Deep Shelter before on a tour, and I must say it was quite enjoyable. This time, my daughter joined me, and she really loved the experience. They had extra areas open that weren’t accessible during my last visit, so it was a treat to see those.

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the site, and it was nice that the tour started outside at the gun placement before moving into the magazine. At the end of the tour, they allow you to return to the gun placement if you’d like to go back.

The Fan Bay Deep Shelter dates back to the 1940s and housed 185 soldiers during the war. It was built in just five months and included six five-inch guns. After World War II, the Fan Bay Deep Shelter was abandoned until the National Trust discovered it in 2012 and restored it for public access in 2015. Over the years, more areas have been excavated and added to the tours. I highly recommend visiting if you're in Dover!

Reculver, The Municipal Camping

 Reculver, The Municipal Camping

Date May | Location Kent | Abandoned 

I was given this location by another explorer in the Kent area. There isn't much to this little find, as it primarily consists of toilet blocks for a campsite that used to exist there. Unfortunately, not much history can be found; a local informed me that it has been abandoned for over 20 years. It was a nice little stroll, even though I had to run really fast to escape a snake!