Right this explore has been in the planning for a few days..It was a previous report that kind of got me interested in both the ww2 tunnels and the cable works..
My self and space invader decided that we should give this place a go, few text’s later and obscurity and maniac where on board and after talking to kheridr I found out troglodyte and Peach where planning the same trip same day so after a few calls we decided to all meet up .
The tunnels themselves we where told on site had basically had steel doors attached to metal frames and the only one that hadn’t been sealed wasn’t exactly “open” 10 inch thick boards of solid wood from top to bottom ,Big shout out too MR.T for his help as entry was made possible.The tunnels where all id expected and more..nice and clean un chaved and really quite large,after we’d all spent a fairwhile inside we drove to several other locations and to be honest one of the locations none of us bothered to take out cameras out as the place was uninspiring to say the least.So after some debate we headed back to AEI for a look round the cable works itself so a few pics from there to finish off with.
Brief history stolen from underground Kent
The company W T Henley has always been highly regarded for the manufacture of cable and electrical components and was clearly the company of choice when a system had to be devised as a countermeasure to the growing threat of German magnetic mines during the Second World War. As a result, a new site was constructed in 1939 in Gravesend for W T Henley and a complex of tunnels built underneath to provide air raid shelter for the company’s employees
With at least six entrances, the air raid shelter was very clearly signed internally to ensure that there was no confusion when looking for your allocated space. Cut into chalk and lined with prefabricated concrete, the shelter tunnels were well laid out, including first aid areas and numerous latrines – in the form of Elson buckets.
The tunnels themselves don’t seem to have much in the way of documented history unlike the cable works, So for those of you with the lust for info here’s a few links that may interest you!
http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1857.0http://kenttodayandyesterday.blogspot.com/2009/11/w-t-henleys-aei-cable-works-northfleet.htmlOn with the pics from what had to have been one of the biggest laughs ive had in ages…
On to the Cable works..Just a couple be rude not too
Thanks to every one on the trip it really was a class day out!
Subject: W T Henley / AEI Cable Works Air Raid Shelter Feb 2011 
Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:08 am
