PDF Reports
Welcome to the PDF section, which I’m slowly putting together.
Maunsell Sea Forts
Report Number 1
Maunsell Sea Forts
Garrision Point Fort
Report Number 2
Garrision Point Fort
Ramsgate Rail Tunnel
Report Number 4
Ramsgate Tunnel
Grain Battery Tower
Report Number 5
Grain Tower Battery
Kent Area
Description
The Thames Estuary Army Forts were constructed in 1942 to a design by
Guy Maunsell, following the successful construction and deployment of the Naval Sea
Forts. Their purpose was to provide anti-aircraft fire within the Thames Estuary
area.
Description
Garrison Point Fort was built in the 1860’s on the site of earlier fortifications
dating back to Henry VIII. In 1667 amid fears of a Dutch attack, a new fort was begun
but remained incomplete; the Dutch launched a surprise attack, capturing the unfinished
defences.
Description
Built in the 1860’s, Cliffe Fort is one of the three Thames Side Forts
that were designed to defend that Thames Estuary. It was also built to work in conjunction
with Coalhouse Fort in Essex to prevent a hostile fleet reaching London via the Thames.
Description
The tunnels underneath Ramsgate provided shelter from air raids during
the Second World War, a purpose that they had also served the First World War. They
consisted primarily of a series of large caves and a disused railway tunnel, that
combined could provide shelter for up to 15,000 people.
Description
Grain Tower was built in 1855 and was based loosely on the Martello Tower
design of the earlier Napoleonic period. It was fortified with the addition of an
upper level in 1912 to house two 4.7inch quick-firing guns.
Grain Fort
Report Number 6
Grain Fort
Description
The Isle of Grain has long been of strategic importance for safeguarding
the entrance to the River Medway and the 1860 Royal Commission called for a casemated
fort around the existing Grain Tower. However this did not proceed and Grain Fort
was constructed as a separate site.
HMS Wildfire
Report Number 7
HMS Wildfire
Description
This was a organised trip between KURG, Subbrit and Canterbury archaeology
society
These tunnels were originally constructed in the 1930s, reputedly by Cornish tin miners. Lying some 80-100 feet below ground, they became the Headquarters of the Commander in Chief Nore during the Second World War. The Nore is a sandbank in the Thames estuary, near the entrance to the river Medway, the site of former naval bases at Sheerness and Chatham.
Description
The Royal Commission of 1859 identified the need to strongly defend the
approaches to the Royal Dockyard at Chatham via the Medway. Hoo Fort was part of
this defence strategy and was one of two circular forts (the other being Fort Darnet)
that was built in the Medway itself. It was a very difficult build, beset with continual
construction problems such as repeated subsidence because of the unstable ground
on which the fort was built.
Description
Built in 1805, Dymchurch Redoubt forms one end of the Martello Tower
system and was originally armed with eleven 24-pounder guns. The Redoubt is circular
in shape and is 220ft across. The interior casemates surrounding the central parade
are parabolic in design, typical of the 1805 period. In 1854, the Redoubt was garrisoned
by 8 officers and 320 men.
Description
These tunnels were constructed as an extension to the existing factory
in 1941. Building above ground was considered imprudent due to the vulnerability
of the Medway estuary to air attacks. The two tunnels that housed the factory workshop
area were both 100m long, and were linked by four traversing tunnels of slightly
shorter length.
Description
A castle of international fame, Dover Castle has seen enormous changes
over nine centuries. It has been lain siege to, housed some of Britain’s most famous
monarchs, withstood Civil War and two World Wars and was even in operational use
during the Cold War. Probably some of the biggest changes are those that have taken
place out of sight; Dover Castle has underground tunnel complexes that formed an
integral and essential part of its defence.
Description
Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey has been a crucial maritime area for
almost five hundred years. Situated in the Thames Estuary, it was realised in the
seventeeth century that Sheerness had great strategic importance, as a hostile naval
force that could gain control of the Isle of Sheppey would then have access to the
Royal Dockyard at Chatham via the River Medway and up the Thames into London itself
and the vital naval dockyards of Deptford and Woolwich.