Echoes from the Sky

At the back of Lade Pit, Lydd-on-Sea, are the three Listening Devices, Concrete Ears or Sound Mirrors, built in the1920’s and 30’s as part of a national early warning system against enemy aircraft. They are not normally open to the public. As part of Heritage Open Weekend, these could be visited on 14 September in a guided tour –some 200 people took the opportunity. We joined that tour, and walked the mile or so from Lade car park to the island in the lakes where these concrete installations are. The area is privately owned, and our guide explained it required about three days worth of paperwork to arrange visits. Dr Richard Scarth accompanied the tour and lectured at each one about its details –but such was the size of the crowd that we did not hear a great deal.