Report - Highsted Chalk Pits - Kent - Jun 2018

[Elcamino;)]

Hi guys! I’m new to the site but have been exploring tunnels for a couple of years. I usually stick to military tunnels but found a chalk quarry near my school that I believe was also used by the military in WW2. I also read up on Kent History Forum that a kid found a grenade and died here which is deep. I found a collapsed tunnel here as well as a pic-axe head, Fox jaw and a crashed car.
There was another pit round the corner but only consisted of a sealed tunnel as far as I know

 

[Airfix]

There is also a WW2 air raid shelter nearby sited in the chalk pit wall.

 

[Elcamino;)]

There is also a WW2 air raid shelter nearby sited in the chalk pit wall.

Yeah I can’t find it! Thank you so much for the photos! Any chance I could get a few directions? I completely fine if not but wondered where it was. Many thanks; HRed

 

[Airfix]

Yeah I can’t find it! Thank you so much for the photos! Any chance I could get a few directions? I completely fine if not but wondered where it was. Many thanks; HRed

It is located in the chalk edge of the pit almost next to the tunnel portal as per you photograph No 2 with the metal door so if you are facing the metal door it is on the left, the entrance is probably now obscured as I took my photographs in 2009.

 

[Elcamino;)]

It is located in the chalk edge of the pit almost next to the tunnel portal as per you photograph No 2 with the metal door so if you are facing the metal door it is on the left, the entrance is probably now obscured as I took my photographs in 2009.

Ah, wondered where it was. Many thanks

 

[DaveFM]

I've been in these pits, way back in about 2003, I assume the metal gate is across the connecting tunnel between the north and south pits, back then it was an open tunnel that you could walk through. There used to be a sign saying that Kent Police dogs were trained there, don't know if this is still the case. The eastern pit is quite dangerous with sheer drops in several places.

 

[Elcamino;)]

I've been in these pits, way back in about 2003, I assume the metal gate is across the connecting tunnel between the north and south pits, back then it was an open tunnel that you could walk through. There used to be a sign saying that Kent Police dogs were trained there, don't know if this is still the case. The eastern pit is quite dangerous with sheer drops in several places.

I take it the East Pit’s between the ruined one and the one with the shelter

 

[DaveFM]

If you look on the satellite map, the two large pits are separated by the Cromer Road and the smaller eastern pit is the other side of the Highsted Road which runs roughly north/south. There was an access tunnel to the east pit but it had been filled in when I visited years ago.

 

[Elcamino;)]

If you look on the satellite map, the two large pits are separated by the Cromer Road and the smaller eastern pit is the other side of the Highsted Road which runs roughly north/south. There was an access tunnel to the east pit but it had been filled in when I visited years ago.

Ah, thank youI’ll have to research it.

 

[DaveFM]

Ah, thank youI’ll have to research it.

Just noticed, I think the first picture on this report is the blocked tunnel to the east pit, it appeared to have been filled with sand as I recall.

 

[DaveFM]

Just noticed, I think the first picture on this report is the blocked tunnel to the east pit, it appeared to have been filled with sand as I recall.

I used to cycle up there when I lived in Maidstone, up Hollingbourne Hill and on to Bredgar then along Bexon Road to the quarries. If you like chalk quarries the Culand pits at Burham are worth a look, the deep pit still has its rail tunnel, about 400 yards long, accessible. Quite a dangerous quarry though, numerous overgrown cliff edges and you get little channels from rain runoff that look like steep paths but just lead to a sheer drop!

 

[Maniac]

Used to tear around these quarries on my bike as a kid in the 90s. Ah the memories!

 

[Elcamino;)]

I used to cycle up there when I lived in Maidstone, up Hollingbourne Hill and on to Bredgar then along Bexon Road to the quarries. If you like chalk quarries the Culand pits at Burham are worth a look, the deep pit still has its rail tunnel, about 400 yards long, accessible. Quite a dangerous quarry though, numerous overgrown cliff edges and you get little channels from rain runoff that look like steep paths but just lead to a sheer drop!

Sound alot bigger! I’ll be sure to check them out

 

[Elcamino;)]

Returned to the pits today. Still the same but the centre pit was open for shooting so we took a “wrong turn” to see if we could find anything but turned around incase anbody was there. Later we heard shooting coming from the pits.
I also thought I’d share some of the pit’s history. I heard that a child died in the pits when a grenade he found exploded not long after World War Two. I didn’t know if it was true but today I met a dog walker who told me it was.
She also told me that prisoners of War supposedly dug out the pits which would make sense as there’s a peice of graffiti on the door to a portal tunnel calling the place a prison.
I couldn’t find the shelter I was looking for so I’m guessing the entrance has been filled but the pits are still fun to visit( although the bigger one’s very bland and empty.).

 

[Sammy99]

Are these the blue bell hill pits? If they are I know a way into that tunnel from a different entrance. I have wanted to explore it for a long time but everyone I ask is too scared to go into there, if anyone wants to take a trip down there and go in I’m up for it you just need a couple torches