Well it was the day of the Thames Forts trip was sunny but cold.
a few photos important news at the bottom.
The Pheonix Cassion off Southend
3.7 Anti Aircrat Tower at red Sands
Red Sands
Up close on Red Sands
Shivering Sands
Bofors Tower Shivering Sands
Amzingly for 6 weeks (ending the start of this month I beleve) somebody was LIVING on this fort! for so arts project funded by Kent County Council and the Arts Council. (Shivering Sands)
Dispite the age and location the paint is still holding out this fort was once Radio City as can be seen from the Non-standard military markings! (Shivering Sands)
All that remains of one of Shivering Sands 3.7 AA towers
Thames Estuary Wind Farm
Our steed for the day.
PS Waverley
News regarding the future of the forts is mixed, the Govenment have sent out a tender for the demolition of ALL the forts on Health and Safety grounds they think a ship might hit them or fishermen might sue if they climb on board and get hurt, when the tender came back the govenment were shocked to see the cheapest was just over £9milllion so the plan has been put on the back burner for now,
The team behind the Red Sands Project are making progress, they have had special platforms built to make ease of access to the forts easyer, these are due to be towed in to place by next weekend, English heritage are also now beleve to be backing the project with a plan to make an aplication to have them listed and to be handed over the the project resolving the govenment of any litagation.
However if the project should fail the forts will most likely be gone by 2008 so as soon as the trip is scheduled for next year book up uf you want to see them up close from the worlds last sea going paddle steamer.
Nick
By: Old Fart - 3rd October 2005 at 12:47
erm err well yes
The forts “kills” were recorded as:
1 E-Boat
22 Aircraft
31 V1 Doodle Bugs
Just think how many of the wrecks still litter the sea bed of the Thames Estuary sadly the salt water and tidal movement will probably have destroyed much of them.
By: Newforest - 3rd October 2005 at 12:35
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=37320&page=1&pp=30&highlight=tha
No need to search, here is the link back from January, ALL you ever needed to know about them, great reading! 🙂
Old Fart: Give you a pass on that explanation, but isn’t anti-craft an
oxymoron for this forum :confused:
By: Old Fart - 3rd October 2005 at 12:22
Posted them here as they are Anti-Aircraft forts…and they are old…
So Historic Aviation related 😉 kind of
I will try and rember to post advice about next years trip a bit earlyer next year as it might well be your last chance to see both sets from on board the Waverley.
By: Hairyplane - 3rd October 2005 at 10:45
Thames Estuary Forts
A subject that continues to fascinate.
I flew the famous toggies Damien B and Man on the Fence over these forts a in September 03. They took some stunning shots. They were posted again on this Forum in January 05.
I’m not sure how to post the link so all I did was click on ‘Search’, enter ‘Thames Estuary Forts’ et voila!
Its well worth a look.
Hairyplane.
By: Rlangham - 3rd October 2005 at 10:07
Very nice, always fascinated by pictures of this modern day fort.
By: Newforest - 3rd October 2005 at 10:04
Very interesting photos, thanks for posting! Is this trip an annual event? Greta to see the Waverley as my Dad worked on it. Not sure why this is posted on Historic Aviation :p
By: Mark12 - 3rd October 2005 at 09:04
Old Fart,
Old Fort.
Nice shots.
Mark
By: EN830 - 3rd October 2005 at 07:53
For some reason they always remind me of War of the Worlds, nice photos, thanks.
Sign In
October 2, 2005 at 11:47 pm