During World War Two, "Kingswode Hoe" was a large house standing on a block of land overlooking Hilly Fields to the north. The estate covered an area approximately 200 yards square. Contemporary records list a number of defence works in the grounds of the house:

"3 weapons pits, 3 slit trenches. Land at rear of Kingswode Hoe, Sussex Road. Map ref. 430434" (Mil. Ed.). The date of entry is 1.8.41.

"Small defence post near greenhouse, weapon pit and slit trench near Bungalow. Garden of Kingswode Hoe, Sussex Road. Map ref. 432435" (Mil. Ed.). The date of entry is 1.8.41.

"Triple dannert wire, 2 spigot mortar positions, 2 rifle positions and ammunition shelter. Paddock adjoining and to W. of Kingswode Hoe, Sussex Road. Map ref. 430435" (Mil. Ed.). The date of entry is 20.5.42.

"Storehouse for explosives. Paddock adj. Kingswode Hoe, Lexden Road, S.W. corner. Map ref. 430433" (Mil. Ed.). The date of entry is .42.

Much of the former estate has now been built over with Kingswode Hoe school and its playing field retaining perhaps a third. The "bungalow" still survives as a private residence - the end house of Sussex Road. The owner of the bungalow recalls, c. 1967/70, what was probably an 8' x 9' corrugated iron ammunition shelter at TL 9838 2527, between the bungalow and Sussex Road. There was also a lot of dismantled corrugated iron sheeting in the area at that time. It was reported that the bungalow (and the main house?) was occupied by the military during the war.

The specific purpose of this concentration of defence works in one small area is not known. Given its hill-top position and many defences it is possible that it was intended as a "keep" - a last ditch area to be defended when all around had been taken. Alternatively, it could have been linked to the large ammunition dump on Hilly Fields - at least fifteen ammunition shelters are known to have been sited there.

No remains of Kingswode Hoe's former defences were found at the time of the site visit.<1><2>

See also <3> & <4>.