When we visited Kent last October we found a few hidden gems to explore. You may remember my recent post on the Louis Blériot Memorial where we learnt about the first Channel flight. Well, today I’m sharing our visit to the National Memorial to the Few in Capel-le-Ferne, between Folkestone and Dover.
We’d spent the day travelling on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and I’d spotted the sign for The Battle of Britain Memorial on our way back to St Margaret’s Bay. Time for a little detour for our aviation fans.
The National Memorial to the Few is another site which is free to visit, the car park, shop and cafe are only open from March to October, but the site itself is open all year round and can be accessed on foot.
We had no idea what to expect but it was well worth a little excursion at the end of a day out.
The National Memorial to the Few celebrates the bravery of the men who fought during the Battle of Britain and is sited right on the cliffside at Capel-le-Ferne. We visited on a rather dull and dreary October day, but on a sunny afternoon, I bet the view is rather more wonderful.
The memorial itself features a pilot staring out to sea and there are three propeller blades cut into the cliffside, in white brickwork.
My photos don’t really do the overall effect justice, but I bet from the air it looks rather more impressive.
It was really quite poignant to stand by the pilot and think of those men, who helped to keep us safe from invasion. The base of the memorial features the various badges of the squadrons who took part in the Battle of Britain.
Monkey was getting a little tired after a busy day, but that didn’t stop him wanting to have a good look round the replica aircraft on display. Look, Daddy!
The National Memorial to the Few includes the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall which lists all those who flew under RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.
We even found someone with the same surname as Daddy P – the family historian in me made sure I’d written the name down before we left (you never know!). We showed Monkey the different planes that took part in the battle. He’s seen Spitfires and Hurricane’s before and is becoming quite knowledgeable for a little boy!
You might remember this photo from a previous #bwphotoproject – the statue of Air Chief Marshall Sir Keith Park.
We were all in need of something to warm us up so we headed into the cafe for a cup of tea. The team there were really friendly and we asked them about the new Wing Visitor Centre which was being built while we were there, and actually opens on Saturday 28th March 2015. The new building looked amazing, even half-built in October. It will be shaped like the wing of a Spitfire and will open ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain later this year.
The Wing is not a museum but houses The Scramble Experience, a hands-on attraction that uses audio-visual effects, a video wall and other special techniques to show something of what it was like for the Few in the summer and early autumn of 1940.
The National Memorial to the Few is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area, and it’s somewhere we’ll revisit the next time we’re in Kent.
The statue of the lone pilot staring at the view is so moving. I definitely will make a detour when I take my kids to visit a friend in Folkestone this summer. Even though they’re young I think it’s important for them to visit places like this.
Hope they enjoy the experience
Looks like a very impressive memorial and worth a visit. I have been to other Battle of Britain memorials but not this one. It’s important to teach our children about this aspect of history. #CountryKids
It’s certainly worth a visit
Wow, what an interesting place to have visited, I bet it was quite poignant with the pilot sat in the middle staring out to sea. I love how they’ve designed it to look like a propeller. Monkey looks enthralled by it all, you can tell he’s enthusiastic about planes. Thanks for linking up with Country Kids.
Now that’s somewhere I’d like to go one day. It looks like a beautiful way to remember such an important part of our history and those who took part in it.
This place is amazing! Would love to visit it!
Well worth it if you are in the area.
Love those sculptures! The vision of this place and what it stands for is amazing. I wish we can visit! #countrykids
It is an evocative place to explore.
Those sculptures and brickwork look quite something, a moving tribute to see x
It really is.
We really want to take the monkeys somewhere like this soon. Big monkey has learned a lot about the War at school! The memorial looks amazing and very moving at the same time!
What a great place to visit and remember. I bet Monkey enjoyed looking at the plane
It sounds like a lovely place to go and learn about the war. It must be fabulous seeing the planes up so close.
#countrykids
It was a little hidden gem
It looks wonderful, and I love that sculpture of the pilot staring out to see. That must be quite emotional to stand next to. Apologies for late commenting, been one of those weeks! #CountryKids
It’s a very poignant place to visit.