Site of Second World War, Anti-tank Obstacles, Martello Tower "D", Clacton Golf Course (EHER 10775)

A long row of anti-tank cubes, now destroyed.

Aerial photograph, 1946 analysed as part of the defence of Essex survey, 1996. An aerial photograph taken in 1946 shows a long row of anti-tank cubes stretching from a position approximately 80 yards west of Martello Tower "D" to the tower itself, and then continuing eastwards for approximately 70 yards until it doglegs inland for approximately 50 yards. In all, around 65 cubes can be seen. <1> Aerial photograph, 1960 An aerial photograph taken in 1960 shows no sign of them. <2> Site visit by Fred Nash in 2006 as part of the defence of Clacton survey. It is now apparent that each end of the line ended at a watercourse which acted as an anti-tank barrier. At the west end, TM 1608 1335, there was a pond, now dried up. However, surveyed in 2006 it is apparent that much of this pond has been infilled and at TM 1603 1334 a lot of broken ‘WWII’ concrete lies just beneath the surface of the banking. In this, a length of anti-tank cable was found, just 15 inches of it visible. This was normally concreted tightly between widely-spaced cubes where the ground was perhaps too soft to support a continuous line of them. At the east end of the line, TM 1618 1342, there was a long stretch of water. This still survives although now smaller. One photo of site. <3> <4>