Capel Battery WWII Heritage Museum

About the museum

Capel Battery was built in 1941–1942 on cliff-top land between Dover and Folkestone after the fall of France, to defend the Channel against enemy warships and E-boats attacking convoys. It was armed with three 8-inch naval guns and later given two Bofors anti-aircraft guns. The battery was manned by Royal Artillery coast units of the 520th Coast Regiment.

The site included gun emplacements with magazines behind them, observation posts, engine blocks, an underground plotting room, a shelter and dressing station, and huts for the garrison. The guns were removed after the war, and the eastern part of the site was redeveloped in 1993 as the Battle of Britain Memorial. The remaining part is a site of about 13 acres that is now looked after by a registered charity and volunteers.

Today visitors can join a guided site tour and see the museum, the remains of No. 1 gun, the underground plotting room, the ammunition store and shelter, and restored Second World War vehicles and searchlights. A Nissen hut is used as a rifle range with supervised airsoft or laser shooting, and living-history events are held on open days. A self-guided visitor guide explains the buildings and the roles of the people who served here.

Highlights

• Guided tour of the gun battery site
• Underground plotting room, ammunition store and shelter
• Remains of No. 1 gun emplacement and observation positions
• Restored Second World War vehicles and searchlights
• Supervised airsoft or laser shooting in a Nissen hut

Permanent exhibitions

• Gun battery and underground plotting room – The remains of the 8-inch gun emplacements, the underground plotting room, the ammunition store and the shelter, shown on a guided tour.
• Vehicles and searchlights – Restored Second World War vehicles, searchlights and equipment, with conservation work carried out by volunteers and cadets.

Founded

1942

Operated by

Capel Battery WWII Heritage Museum (registered charity 1214983)

Admission & discounts

Standard entry of £5 includes the guided site tour and museum access. The events page describes the £5 tour as a donation. Schools and cadet programmes are priced on request.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is level access to several areas of the site; the museum asks visitors with specific needs to get in touch beforehand. Underground rooms are part of the visit.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The museum offers school and cadet programmes, hands-on handling objects, vehicle rides on some open days and seasonal family searchlight evenings. For the rifle range, guidance is age 10 and over for laser shooting and 12 and over for airsoft; under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Getting there & parking

Capel-le-Ferne is about five minutes from junction 12 of the M20. The site is on New Dover Road, next to the Battle of Britain Memorial and the Valiant Sailor public house.

Amenities & dining

Parking and toilets are available. Tea has been served from a wagon on some event days. Self-contained motorhomes can stay overnight on the site by arrangement, from £25 per night.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit