Thames Estuary WWII Relics

[alan8376]

Having recently sailed from London to Brighton, we sailed past some 8 -10 (impressive) rusting forts on stilts. Can anyone tell me what they are called and their original purpose and possibly why they have not been removed???

 

[ccscott49]

Anti aircraft gun towers, dont know what they are called, longsand fort??

 

[bamspm]

There are 2 sets. They were gun emplacements and used against German bombers heading for London and later in the war for shooting down V1 doodlebugs. I believe one set was used for a time as a pirate radio station after the war.

 

[michael_w]

IIRC they're either Red Sand Forts or Shivering Sand Forts depending on which set you photographed.

 

[Rabbie]

See here - http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/ScrapBook/CityReunion/FortFanatics.html

 

[alldownwind]

Quite a bit here too:
http://www.undergroundkent.co.uk/maunsell_towers.htm

 

[savageseadog]

Must have been a bit scary manning them I would have thought. With today's guided arnaments they would be gone in a flash so to speak.

 

[Colvic Watson]

That lot are Red Sand Towers, next to the wind farm. We often take a trip out that way as the fishing is excellent. Took my (intrepid) brother and his mate out to see them and they rowed over and climbed up - to be met by a peregrine falcon nesting on the top floor. They commented on how enormous the buildings were inside. I guess they haven't removed them because of the work involved. Shows the quality of the construction that they are standing 60 years later.

 

[oldgit]

One of the forts is being made safe for visitors.The chap who I moor next to takes interested parties out about once a month.
This months visit has been delayed due to a new recently installed access ladder coming adrift.
Have a quick look here X Pilot Trips or Project Red Sands