Evening Guys,
visited Cliffe Fort this weekend with my friend, the previous way in had been sealed, but we found an 'interesting' way in! Had great fun there, climbing in and out of the ground floor windows to avoid getting wet.
History
Cliffe fort was built in 1860 to defend the Thames Estuary from attack. This was during an era of many additions and improvements to Britain’s costal defence, as Britain feared a French invasion. The guns which were installed in Cliffe Fort were 12.5†and 11†rifled muzzle load, weighing around 35 tons. Protection of these guns was provided by granite faced casemates with shields for added defense. These shields, casemates and the rails on which the gun carriages stood are all still visible today
The fort is also the home of a pioneering torpedo system built between 1887 and 1903.
During the last world war an observation tower and AA guns were added to the site, however soon after the fort was closed.
Today
The fort is owned by the gravel extraction company which operated nearby. However as the fort is a Scheduled Ancient Monument; scope for redevelopment is rather limiting.
Anyway the photos:
Evidence of the orriginal gun casements, rails and pulleys
The torpedo rails:
The soldiers quarters, mainly flooded but still with orriginal plaster in places:
WW2 observation tower:
2 old lorries nearby:
Regards,
visited Cliffe Fort this weekend with my friend, the previous way in had been sealed, but we found an 'interesting' way in! Had great fun there, climbing in and out of the ground floor windows to avoid getting wet.
History
Cliffe fort was built in 1860 to defend the Thames Estuary from attack. This was during an era of many additions and improvements to Britain’s costal defence, as Britain feared a French invasion. The guns which were installed in Cliffe Fort were 12.5†and 11†rifled muzzle load, weighing around 35 tons. Protection of these guns was provided by granite faced casemates with shields for added defense. These shields, casemates and the rails on which the gun carriages stood are all still visible today
The fort is also the home of a pioneering torpedo system built between 1887 and 1903.
During the last world war an observation tower and AA guns were added to the site, however soon after the fort was closed.
Today
The fort is owned by the gravel extraction company which operated nearby. However as the fort is a Scheduled Ancient Monument; scope for redevelopment is rather limiting.
Anyway the photos:
Evidence of the orriginal gun casements, rails and pulleys
The torpedo rails:
The soldiers quarters, mainly flooded but still with orriginal plaster in places:
WW2 observation tower:
2 old lorries nearby:
Regards,
