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The Royal Military Canal between West Hythe Dam and West Hythe Bridge is a defensive waterway constructed during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically between 1804 and 1807, as part of Britain's coastal fortification strategy against the threat of French invasion. The canal extends across the Kent Levels and forms part of a larger defensive system that included gun batteries and other military installations designed to protect the Romney Marsh and surrounding areas. This section of the canal retains its characteristic straight course and earthwork banks, representing a well-preserved example of early nineteenth-century military engineering. The Royal Military Canal remains an important historical monument illustrating the scale and sophistication of Napoleonic-era home defence preparations.
Royal Military Canal, West Hythe Dam to West Hythe Bridge is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1005492. View the official record →
The Royal Military Canal between West Hythe Dam and West Hythe Bridge is a defensive waterway constructed during the Napoleonic Wars, specifically between 1804 and 1807, as part of Britain's coastal fortification strategy against the threat of French invasion. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1005492.
Royal Military Canal, West Hythe Dam to West Hythe Bridge is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1005492.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Early medieval flood defence at Botolph's Bridge, West Hythe (0.8 km), Royal Military Canal, West Hythe Bridge to Scanlon's Bridge (1.6 km), Dymchurch Redoubt (2.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Royal Military Canal, West Hythe Dam to West Hythe Bridge's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Royal Military Canal, West Hythe Dam to West Hythe Bridge stands on Wealden Group, bedrock that formed in the Barremian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.