Sound mirrors

A 20′ mirror was built on The Roughs near Hythe in Kent, and a 30′ mirror was later added a short distance to the west.

30′ mirror

The 30′ mirror is fenced off, but some bits have fallen off, and it is somewhat graffitied.

It is made of metal mesh, supported by an angle-iron frame and covered with concrete, unlike other other mirrors which appear to be made of cast concrete with hidden steel reinforcing.

The listening chamber underneath the mirror.

There is a large hole in one side of the mirror.

Rear view.

20′ mirror

Landslips have caused the 20′ mirror to fall on its face. This is it seen from the front, looking at what was the top of the mirror.

And this is the 20′ mirror from behind. Hythe can be seen in the distance.

The foundations of huts which once stood near the mirror. The mirror is visible to the right.

Location

The mirrors are on MoD property at The Roughs, west of Hythe in Kent. The 30′ mirror is easily visible from the Pennypot Estate and is accessible from a track leading south from the lane which links Lympne to Court Farm near Pedlinge village. An approximate grid reference is TR138344.

The 20′ mirror is a short distance east of the 30′ mirror. A footpath follows the contour of the hillside east from the 30′ mirror towards Hythe and passes the 20′ example. The remains of the huts are obvious, and the mirror lies on its front a few metres away. There is also a circular earthwork of some sort. An approximate grid reference is TR140345.

I’m not sure whether or not you are strictly allowed in to the fields where the mirrors are, but there were plenty of other people wandering around when I visited on 3 May 2003.

On the slope just below the 30′ mirror there is another military building of some sort. Mike Cox suggests it is probably a radio D/F station.

Links

• Not far away from the Hythe mirrors, a modern mirror has been built on the banks of the Royal Military Canal.
• The story of Radar Development has a few pictures of the Hythe mirrors and some history.