Red Sands Forts
As you can see, this trip takes you right up to the Redsands forts in the Thames Estuary.
These 'Maunsell' forts (named after their designer, Guy Maunsell) were built in the Second World War as anti aircraft forts as a defence against the German bombing raids following the river to London. There are seven towers, which were connected by walkways and they were part of a series of defences in the Thames, along with the Shivering Sands forts, the Nore fort and the Knock John fort.
I can remember as a kid in the 1960's listening to the pirate radio stations that used to broadcast from the forts, including Radio City and Screaming Lord Such (he of the Monster Raving Loony Party). There is some more information on them at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunsell_Forts#Red_Sands_Fort_.28U6.29 if you were interested.
This image was taken from the splendid classic service vessel 'X-Pilot' which operates out of Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey (see x-pilot.co.uk/) for details.
More detail viewed fullscreen.
Red Sands Forts
As you can see, this trip takes you right up to the Redsands forts in the Thames Estuary.
These 'Maunsell' forts (named after their designer, Guy Maunsell) were built in the Second World War as anti aircraft forts as a defence against the German bombing raids following the river to London. There are seven towers, which were connected by walkways and they were part of a series of defences in the Thames, along with the Shivering Sands forts, the Nore fort and the Knock John fort.
I can remember as a kid in the 1960's listening to the pirate radio stations that used to broadcast from the forts, including Radio City and Screaming Lord Such (he of the Monster Raving Loony Party). There is some more information on them at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maunsell_Forts#Red_Sands_Fort_.28U6.29 if you were interested.
This image was taken from the splendid classic service vessel 'X-Pilot' which operates out of Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey (see x-pilot.co.uk/) for details.
More detail viewed fullscreen.