Anti-Tank Blocks, Fort Amherst

Image: © David Anstiss Taken: 8 Sep 2011

These blocks are around the back of a memorial garden at the lower end of Fort Amherst. In the background is the tower of the Brook Theatre. The sign in the foreground reads 'Anti Tank Blocks These Anti-tank blocks are more commonly known as 'Dragon's Teeth' and were once a familiar sight throughout Kent. They were hastily constructed during the summer of 1940 at the height of the German invasion scare with the intention of preventing tanks and other armoured vehicles passing through or around road blocks or other strategic points. They were also employed on beaches to prevent vehicles landing. There were a number of types of these anti-tank blocks, including both fixed and movable versions. There were others designed to close off railways and bridges and to secure gaps in natural defence lines. They were deployed in many thousands throughout the Medway Towns alone, with the nearby arch closed off with fixed blocks in 1940. These particular blocks formed part of a bridge defence across a railway line near Ashford in Kent. The angular ironwork protruding from them allowed barbed wire entanglements to be used to stop infantry passing through them. They were removed as part of the work in building the Channel Tunnel Rail link and were donated and transported by Kaveaner Plc, the principal contractor of the project.'

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