Denge Sound Mirrors, Kent
Excerpt
Spanning roughly 1916 to 1936, the South Coast Sound Mirrors form a series of interwar “listening ears” scattered along England’s southern shore. Built from curved concrete with focal-point collectors, they acted as early aircraft detectors—radar’s mechanical forerunners—designed to pick up the roar of approaching enemy planes. Today, six key sites preserving seven of these historic […]
Description
Spanning roughly 1916 to 1936, the South Coast Sound Mirrors form a series of interwar “listening ears” scattered along England’s southern shore. Built from curved concrete with focal-point collectors, they acted as early aircraft detectors—radar’s mechanical forerunners—designed to pick up the roar of approaching enemy planes.
Today, six key sites preserving seven of these historic acoustic dishes remain open for exploration: Abbot’s Cliff (Langdon Cliffs), Kent. Denge Sound Mirrors, Kent. Fan Bay Sound Mirrors, Kent. Warden Point Sound Mirror, Isle of Sheppey, Kent. Joss Gap Sound Mirror, Kent. Hythe Sound Mirror, Kent. Selsey Sound Mirror, West Sussex.
The Denge Sound Mirrors, Kent consist of three concrete reflectors at Dungeness—20 ft and 30 ft dishes (1928–30) plus a 200 ft long wall (1930)—that together formed Britain’s most sophisticated listening station.
They are located on the RSPB Greatstone reserve, reached via Lade car park. The mirrors are visible from the footpath around the south lake; guided tours run in summer months.
Photo credit: adam w
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Contact Info
- events.rspb.org.uk/dungeness
- Denge, Greatstone, New Romney TN28 8SA