For a short while, under the control of the Anti-Aircraft Fort Maintenance Detachment, they were furnished with improved searchlights and radar installations. The current state of the Maunsell Forts near Whitstable and Herne Bay. The forts were designed by Mr G. A. Maunsell and built for defence during 1941-2. Kit and Equipment; Photography; Travel; Contact × Search for: Posted in Kent, Local History. Throughout World War II it was constantly endangered by German minelayers, U-boats, and the Luftwaffe. Knock John was ready for action on 1 August. From 1939 until 1942 the British navy patrolled the area; then a series of seven sea forts was built to permanently guard… They were operated as army and navy forts, and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. The designs were quite out there, but the designs were approved and a number of off shore forts were constructed between 1942 and 1943. In the past most of the trips departing to the Maunsell sea forts commenced from the nearby Herne Bay. Maunsell Forts, Kent, England. 468 Reviews . At each site, the Bofors platform was erected first to defend the construction crews as they assembled the rest of the fort. Even when war was little more than a threat, he submitted several proposals for seaward defenses, but it was not until October 1940—over a year after the outbreak of war—that the Admiralty commissioned him to design a prototype sea fortress. Part of the Thames Estuary defense network , the anti-aircraft tower-forts were constructed in 1942, with each fort consisting of a cluster of seven stilted buildings surrounding a central command tower. The forts were decommissioned in the late 1950s and later used for other activities including pirate radio broadcasting. Instantly recognisable, the forts, which were built in 1943 and designed by Guy Maunsell, feature prominently on the horizon off the Kent coast. The naval sea forts were essentially steel gun platforms with two 6-inch (150-millimeter) cannon and a Bofors antiaircraft gun. Shivering Sands Maunsell Fort, Thames Estuary, Kent Photograph taken 1942 - 1965 © Historic England Archive ref: AA002062 The Shivering Sands Army fort is one of 3 Maunsell Forts. They were built during the Second World War at the mouth of the Mercy and Thames rivers. You can learn all about them on our trip. Piloted boat trips to Whitstable Kent The four naval forts were Rough Sands, Sunk Head, Tongue Sands, and Knock John. For a few years after 1945 the naval forts were serviced by the Thames Estuary Special Defence unit, and two were temporarily adapted as lightships. Discover Maunsell Army Sea Forts in England: Surreal riveted sea forts once protected the Kent shores from German attack. These are the Shivering Sands and Red Sands offshore forts that were built during the Second World War to counter attack enemy planes that were relying on the safety of the Thames estuary to come in to bomb London. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Whitstable, Kent . See more ideas about maunsell forts, fort, abandoned places. There were four naval forts: 1. If you look out northwards out into the Thames estuary from the north Kent coast, on a clear day, two clumps of rectangular blocks can be observed. Two were positioned in the estuary off the Essex coast and two off the Kent coast. The Maunsell Fortsare armed towers built in the Thamesand Merseyestuaries during the Second World Warto help defend the United Kingdom. Two kinds of forts, one for the navy and another for the army, were designed by the civil engineer Guy Maunsell. ( Log Out /  Jul 30, 2017 - Explore Pedro Munarriz's board "Maunsell Forts" on Pinterest. ( Log Out /  The designs were quite out there, but the designs were approved and a number of off shore forts were constructed between 1942 and 1943. Thames Estuary Maunsell Forts If you look out northwards out into the Thames estuary from the north Kent coast, on a clear day, two clumps of rectangular blocks can be observed. Each fort consisted of a group of seven towers with a walkway connecting them all to the central control tower. 590 Reviews . Built on land and then transported to their watery homes, the forts were designed by Guy Maunsell, a British civil engineer, later known for innovations in concrete bridge design. To book trips to Visit Redsand Fort with the X-Pilot please contact them via their website or their Facebook page. hi there boat trips to maunsell forts run from southend Essex on the Waverley paddle steamer the trips this year have finished to the spring the cost this year was £27 per person the trip lasted 3 hours visited red sands and shivering sands ... Kent . Both Army and Navy forts successfully acquitted themselves during the war years. Knock John (U4) The design was a concrete construction; a pontoon barge on which stood two cylindrical towers on top of which was the gun platform mounting two 3.75-in… Shivering Sands Maunsell Fort, Thames Estuary, Kent The Shivering Sands Army fort is one of 3 Maunsell Forts. Already in the late 50-ies of the last century the structures were out of order and stopped being used. Maunsell is best known for his innovative, practical maritime engineering and pioneering the development of prestressed concrete in the UK, Australia and Hong Kong. THE WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION – FRANCE. The Maunsell forts were built in world war 2 and have had an interesting history, once protecting the Thames Estuary from German war planes and then becoming the home for a pirate radio station. Because the Ministry of Defence believed that a combination of bad weather and tidal action would quickly destroy them after the war, no thought was taken for their disposal. The long term goal is for restoration to the point where public visits can take place safely and give visitors a comprehensive view of how the fort was built, why it was built and the uses it has been put to over the decades since its construction. But when France fell, the Admiralty was moved to action and asked Maunsell to produce five sea forts for the Royal Navy. A dad suffering from bowel cancer has had his dream of visiting the Second World War Maunsell sea forts come true. Rising from the water like rusty invaders out of H.G. Barbarossa to ‘Berlog’ – Soviet Air Force, Rome Military mid-fourth century to the mid-third century BC, Rommel Recaptures Cyrenaica, January 1942, Russian Weapons, that are currently in service…, A Lesson of History: The Luftwaffe and Barbarossa. The Maunsell naval (sea) forts, built in the Thames estuary and operated by the Royal Navy, were to deter and report German air raids following the Thames as a landmark, and attempts to lay mines by aircraft in this important shipping channel. We've bought this trip back for 2020 after so much demand, although we have tweaked it a little bit to give you extra comfort whilst at sea for 4 hours. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. See more ideas about maunsell forts, fort, abandoned places. The Suomen Ilmavoimat (Finnish Air Force). X-Pilot is the Project Redsand CIO, UK registered charity No.1172590, Official Supply Vessel. The Red Sand fort, off the Isle of Sheppey, was abandoned that same year. His view was always that the interests of a client would be best served by an integrated approach to design and construction. Les Forts Maunsell étaient des petites tours fortifiées marines construites au niveau de l’estuaire de la Tamise et du Mersey durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale pour protéger le Royaume-Uni de toute invasion allemande.Ils tirent leur nom de leur concepteur Guy Maunsell.L’armée les a abandonnés à la fin des années 1950 et ils furent parfois utilisés pour d’autres activités. The army forts also went into decline. 4 Hours Duration. Shivering Sands Army Fort [U7] was a Maunsell army fort built near the Thames estuary for anti-aircraft defence.It is made up of several once interconnected towers north of Herne Bay and is 14.8 km (9.2 miles) from the nearest land. If you want to go to a trip with them and volunteer see Project Redsand for available dates. Choisissez parmi des contenus premium Maunsell Sea Forts de la plus haute qualité. The Maunsell Forts are armed towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom.They were operated as army and navy forts, and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. Difficulty of access in storms led to that being discontinued; in fact, Tongue Sands was wrecked in bad weather in 1966. Operation Redsand Forts performs regular boat tours to the forts. The forts were decommissioned in the late 1950s and later used for other activities including pirate radiobroadcasting. Rough Sands (HM Fort Roughs) (U1) 2. The people at Project Redsand also do regular trips to the Redsand Army Fort for maintenance work. In the event, only three were built on each side of England. The Maunsell Forts were small fortified towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom.They were named after their designer, Guy Maunsell.The forts were decommissioned in the late 1950s and later used for other activities. X-Pilot is a charter vessel working mainly in the rivers Medway and Swale in Kent and the Thames Estuary and also rivers in Essex in the Southeast of England. Each fort accommodated up to 265 men. The Maunsell Army and Navy forts were built and placed in the Thames Estuary in 1942 to help protect London from airstrikes and sea raids during World War II. There is now no way to measure the passive deterrent effect of the Maunsell forts, but during their short active life they accounted for the destruction of twenty-two enemy aircraft and about thirty flying bombs. Similar fortifications were built to protect the Port of Liverpool, but all these fortifications were abandoned by the Armed Forces in the 1950s. 646 Reviews . The sea forts of Maunsell are one of the most unusual military installations, that are by fate in ruins. NEW!!! Sunk Head followed on 1 June, and Tongue Sands was completed about a fortnight later. What if Eisenhower Had Driven On to Berlin? If you manage to get close to them you can still see parts of the ladders that were used by the men posted there. A total of three sea forts under the control of the Army were constructed in 1941/42 to protect the vital shipping lane and air corridor along the River Thames which had suffered greatly from magnetic sea mines dropped by German aircraft. From the Maunsell forts it is a short boat trip over to the Kentish Flats wind farms. The incredible and iconic Red Sands forts as they stand in the Thames estuary in 2019 in full 4K steadicam. The sea forts of Maunsell are one of the most unusual military installations, that are by fate in ruins. Constructed in 1942 to a design by Guy Maunsell, the forts purpose was to provide anti-aircraft fire within the Thames Estuary area. Paul smith (30/09/2018) A brilliant trip to the forts and windfarm for my dads birthday we really enjoyed it and can’t fault a thing! Les tours dessinées dans cette image sont quelques-unes de celles construites pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale pour aider à défendre les rives - ils ont été nommés d’après le designer Guy Maunsell. The huge structures were assembled by Holloway Brothers at the Red Lion Wharf, Gravesend, towed downriver by three tugs, and sunk by flooding their hollow pontoon base. ( Log Out /  Each of these Forts was manned by 120 men and three officers with crews rotating every six weeks to shore bases at Harwich for the Essex forts and Sheerness for the Kent Forts. At the start of the war Guy Maunsell created plans to build off shore forts, built on concrete bases. Knock John (U4) The design of these concrete structures is equal to a military grade bunk… The 6 hour tours of the Thames estuary commence at Whitstable Harbour, just seven miles north of Canterbury. The forts had a very short but intense life during World War II when Great Britain faced serious attacks from the Luftwaffe. Tongue Sands (U3) 4. The 6 hour tours of the Thames estuary commence at Whitstable Harbour, just seven miles north of Canterbury. Learn how your comment data is processed. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. While in service, the Maunsell forts at the Thames estuary took down 22 planes and 30 flying bombs. Rough Sands (HM Fort Roughs) (U1) 2. Picture: Barratt Homes. In the 1960s and 70s, the remaining abandoned forts were famously taken over as … The Maunsell Forts are a group of nine WW2 army and navy defence forts located off-shore near the South East coast of England. Today, the forts are abandoned and … After their successful wartime career, the Maunsell sea forts were decommissioned in the 1950s. Close up, they are extraordinary – vast, rusting metal hulks. Hotel Continental. At the start of the war Guy Maunsell created plans to build off shore forts, built on concrete bases. Jul 30, 2017 - Explore Pedro Munarriz's board "Maunsell Forts" on Pinterest. In 1959 another vessel collided with the Shivering Sands fort, bringing down one of the towers. Although the Maunsell Forts were completely abandoned and left to deteriorate way back in 1958, many of them still stand in the sea today. Thames forts . Their purpose was to provide anti-aircraft fire within the Thames Estuary area. Change ). Sunk Head (U2) 3. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. Whitstable, Kent . Whitstable, Kent . View Hotel. He died at Tunbridge Wells, Kent on 20th June 1961. Constructed in 1942 to a design by Guy Maunsell, the forts purpose was to provide anti-aircraft fire within the Thames Estuary area. They are named after the civil engineer that designed them, Guy Maunsell. Kent Life Today at 2:25 AM The iconic Maunsell Forts off the coast near Whitstable and a few ra ... re shots of their interiors by Matt Emmett of Forgotten Heritage See More From 1939 until 1942 the British navy patrolled the area; then a series of seven sea forts was built to permanently guard the river mouth. In the past there were plenty of boat tours that approached the Maunsell Sea Forts and even let people take a look inside of them but nowadays organized tours are rare. Today, daily tours are performed by a restored Thames sailing barge. I think the only option currently operating would be the day trips on the Greta Thames Sailing Barge from Whitstable but it usually gets booked up so you'd need to check in advance if there's any spaces left for this coming week; it advertises as leisurely sail taking up to 6 hrs.. Sunk Head (U2) 3. The 6 hour tours of the Thames estuary commence at Whitstable Harbour, just seven miles north of Canterbury. It lies slightly north of the Thames Estuary off Harwich, and in September 1967, when it was still outside British territorial waters, a former British army officer named Paddy Roy Bates formally (and it must be said legally) annexed it as the Principality of Sealand, going aboard as the “prince” with his family. Maunsell Forts: The full story behind the mysterious abandoned structures off the east Kent coast Sitting in the sea off Herne Bay and Margate, they were abandoned many years ago after the end of World War II After May 1964 the former, together with Red Sand and Shivering Sands army forts, was occupied at various times and for various periods by pirate radio stations, until the last was shut down under the Offshore Broadcasting Act in July 1967. It was decided to build five in the Mersey mouth and seven in the Thames Estuary. Take a boat trip from Whitstable Harbour to the Maunsell Whitstable Sea Forts for a unique experience. Thames Estuary Maunsell Forts. Maunsell Forts aboard Wetwheels. Their role was to detect, deter, and report German air raids and military movements around the River Thames, such as attempts to lay water mines along the estuary and sabotage this important shipping channel. Thoroughly enjoyed a trip to the maunsell forts and wind farm on Sunday (a birthday present)Thanks to our skipper Paul for a great experience and a very professional and friendly service.Highly recommended. After World War II they were decommissioned and abandoned, but in the 1960s were taken over by pirate radio stations and enjoyed a colourful few years before they were shut down. Project Redsand was set up with the aims of conserving, preserving and interpreting the history of the structure known as Redsands Fort. These were larger installations comprising seven interconnected steel platforms. Mar 7, 2018 - Discover Maunsell Army Sea Forts in England: Surreal riveted sea forts once protected the Kent shores from German attack. Even when war was little more than a threat, he submitted several proposals for seaward defenses, but it was not until October 1940—over a year after the outbreak of war—that the Admiralty commissioned him to design a prototype sea fortress. Trouver la maunsell forts photo idéale Une vaste collection, un choix incroyable, plus de 100 millions d’images LD et DG abordables de haute qualité. 2021 trips to the Maunsell Forts - History up close! The reinforced concrete and steel structures were entirely prefabricated in a Gravesend dry dock, floated to their locations, sunk, and anchored on the bottom of the sea, up to 9 miles (14 kilometers) off the coast. These are the Maunsell Forts, constructed in the 1940s as anti-aircraft gun platforms. Take a boat trip from Whitstable Harbour to the Maunsell Whitstable Sea Forts for a unique experience. Trouvez les Maunsell Sea Forts images et les photos d’actualités parfaites sur Getty Images. The Maunsell Sea Forts. Those in the Thames Estuary, constructed by the engineers who built the navy forts, were towed downriver in pairs and lowered by winches at strategic sites: The Great Nore, Shivering Sands, and Red Sand—all rather closer inshore than the navy counterparts. ( Log Out /  Throughout World War II it was constantly endangered by German minelayers, U-boats, and the Luftwaffe. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Maunsell Forts (Red Sand Towers) Tour 24th and 25th October 2020: Last attempts for the Towers this year. Already in the late 50-ies of the last century the structures were out of order and stopped being used. Maunsell Sea Forts, now abandoned WW2 anti aicraft defences in the Thames Estuary off the North Kent Coast near Herne Bay 12/10/2013 Sea forts at Red Sands, Thames Estuary Maunsell Forts. If you manage to get close to them you can still see parts of the ladders that were used by the men posted there. There were also four navy forts that served as part of the Thames Estuary defences. Wartime sea forts off the coast of Kent set to be converted into luxury resort. Take a three hour cruise from Southend Pier to the Eerie World War 2 Maunsel forts , … Turner, Frank R. 1995. The fifth was never built. The first was sited at The Roughs in February 1942. Sat off the Kent coast in the Thames Estuary, they were originally built in 1942 during World War II to help deter and defend against German forces. Non-regular services are also offered by X-Pilot but you need to call to inquire about the dates the boat goes to … X-Pilot is the Project Redsand CIO, UK registered charity No.1172590, Official Supply Vessel. They were built during the Second World War at the mouth of the Mercy and Thames rivers. Tongue Sands (U3) 4. The Maunsell Forts are armed towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom.They were operated as army and navy forts, and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. The army sea forts, also designed by Maunsell, were England’s response to German air attacks on the strategic Liverpool docks via the undefended Mersey Estuary. The Maunsell Forts are heavily armed ‘metal islands’ built during WWII to defend the United Kingdom from invasion. View Hotel. Maunsell also designed forts for anti-aircraft defence. In total, there are ten Maunsell Forts: six of them were operated as army forts and the other … Whitstable, Kent . View Hotel. River Thames, England, UK 12/10/2013 Sea forts at Red Sands, Thames Estuary Maunsell Forts. The coasts of Kent and Essex Counties, England, overlook the Thames Estuary, the only sea route to London. Despite their short-lived roles as radio stations, the survivors are now derelict. I think the only option currently operating would be the day trips on the Greta Thames Sailing Barge from Whitstable but it usually gets booked up so you'd need to check in advance if there's any spaces left for this coming week; it advertises as leisurely sail taking up to 6 hrs.. They were an innovative architectural and engineering achievement. Non-regular services are also offered by X-Pilot but you need to call to inquire about the dates the boat goes to the Maunsell forts. Built in 1892 the Greta explores the Maunsell Forts at a very leisurely pace. Keep up the good work guys! Maunsell Sea Forts Located off shore on the Thames estuary, the Maunsell Sea Forts are some of the most bizarre-looking structures. Gravesend, UK: F. R. Turner. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. ... Whitstable, Kent . Jutting out of the waters of the Thames Estuary, The Maunsell Forts slowly rust away. The giant fortresses, named after their designer Guy Maunsell, were constructed to protect the UK from aerial or naval attacks from Nazi Germany. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Jan 17, 2019 - Explore Tom Luth's board "Sea Forts" on Pinterest. For those that love off-beat travel, they provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close to some surreal, awe-inspiring structures. Maunsell Sea Forts, now abandoned WW2 anti aicraft defences in the Thames Estuary off the North Kent Coast near Herne Bay Grosmont station platform - 1930s Class S15 Maunsell 4-6-0 freight train locomotive design Ex SR 825 (BR 30825). One became the Principality of Sealand; boats visit the remaining forts occasionally, and a consortium … Each self-contained fort had living quarters for twenty-four men and comprised seven steel platforms supported on four 160-foot (49-meter) concrete legs. Maunsell Sea Forts. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The three army forts in Kent were constructed at Gravesend and installed in the Thames Estuary. Maunsell Forts; Red Sands Forts; Plan your visit; Marine fortifications (forts) were built during 1941-43 as part of the external defense against the bombing of London and in order to avoid a German mining from the air of the Thames estuary. 2021 trips to the Maunsell Forts - History up close! The Great Nore fort was dismantled in 1958 after being struck by a ship and officially declared a hazard to shipping. Looking back at the Red Sand forts is like looking through time, you will be at the cutting edge of technology looking back at what was the pinnacle of innovation 75 years ago. I'm wanting to take a boat trip out to see the Maunsell Sea Forts. Maunsell Sea Forts, now abandoned WW2 anti aicraft defences in the Thames Estuary off the North Kent Coast near Herne Bay 12/10/2013 Sea forts at Red Sands, Thames Estuary Maunsell Forts. Wells, the Maunsell sea forts in the Thames Estuary are decaying reminders of the darkest days of World War II. The coasts of Kent and Essex Counties, England, overlook the Thames Estuary, the only sea route to London. We want to go again!! They were constructed in dry dock and assemble… NEW!!! Built in 1892 the Greta explores the Maunsell Forts at a very leisurely pace. Il s’agit d’une estampe tirée d’une They were linked high above the sea by tubular steel catwalks that also carried power and fuel lines between the platforms. See more ideas about maunsell forts, fort, abandoned. The pontoon bases used in the earlier structures would have been unsuitable in shallower water, where tidal currents constantly shifted the seabed; instead, Maunsell designed a self-burying footing that firmly anchored each tower in place. The Roughs continues to have an eccentric postwar history. They were a success. Crescent Turner Hotel. Only Knock John and The Roughs survive. WW2 forts built to protect Kent coast from Nazi attack to be turned into a luxury resort, complete with executive apartments, a helipad and a spa at sea . Built in 1942, these offshore fortified towers were designed to provide anti-aircraft fire during the Second World War. They can be viewed from Shoeburyness East Beach on clear days. [1] The forts were decommissioned in the late 1950s and later used for other activities including pirate radio broadcasting. Built in 1892 the Greta explores the Maunsell Forts at a very leisurely pace. Two kinds of forts, one for the navy and another for the army, were designed by the civil engineer Guy Maunsell. The locations of the seven Maunsell Forts off the east coast of England. For those that love off-beat travel, they provide a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close to some surreal, awe-inspiring structures. Non-regular services are also offered by X-Pilot  but you need to call to inquire about the dates the boat goes to the Maunsell forts. His initial costly proposal, for a 2,900-ton (2,640-tonne) pontoon supporting a gun battery, was shelved by the government. The Maunsell naval forts were built in the Thames Estuary and were operated by the Royal Navy. Their role was to detect, deter, and report German air raids and military movements around the River Thames, such as attempts to lay water mines along the estuary and sabotage this important shipping channel. Their robustness means that their skeletons will stand in the North Sea for some years to come, gaunt confirmation of the proverb “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Guy Maunsell did not survive his great sea forts, dying in 1961 after establishing an international civil-engineering partnership, which continues. Construction began in August 1942, and the last tower was completed sixteen months later. There were four naval forts: 1. The Maunsell Forts are a group of nine WW2 army and navy defence forts located off-shore near the South East coast of England. Any perceived crisis past, the army stripped all guns and equipment from them in 1956. 584 Reviews . Four towers arranged in a semicircle ahead of the control centre and accommodation each carried a QF 3.75 inch gun, a tower to the rear of the control centre mounted Bofors 40 mm guns, while the seventh tower, set to one side of the gun towers and further out, was the searchlight tower. The Maunsell naval forts were built in the Thames Estuary and were operated by the Royal Navy. Whilst this particular market is very small, we do know that it is of interest to Castleist readers and thus on this page you will find the following properties whenever they come up for sale: forts for sale, island forts for sale, sea forts for sale (including Palmerston forts and Maunsell forts… Each fortress had a crew of about 100, who lived, provisioned for more than a month, in the two 26-foot-diameter (8-meter), 7-story concrete “legs” that supported the main platform, with its guns, radar, and control tower. Although not as large as the now almost commonplace offshore oil and gas platforms around the world, the sea forts predated them by about five years, and the six so-called “Texas Towers” that form part of the U.S. lighthouse system by almost twenty. Kent; Blog. River Thames, England, UK 12/10/2013 Sea forts at Red Sands, Thames Estuary Maunsell Forts. View Hotel. The Nore Army Fort was badly damaged in a storm and by being struck by a ship and was dismantled in 1959-60. After the war, the forts became the headquarters for pirate radio stations. They also destroyed one German attack boat. Hotel Continental - Fisherman Huts. Four were gun towers with 3.7-inch (95-millimeter) cannon; a fifth was armed with a Bofors gun; the sixth was a searchlight tower; and the last was for radar. A return ticket price costs £60 and their exact schedule can be found on their site. We are delighted to announce that X-Pilot will resume sailings in May 2021, however, as the Coronavirus situation is in constant flux, we will continue to monitor Government advice and update our sailing schedules where necessary. Cette impression sintègre dans les cadres de taille standard. Crescent Turner Hotel. Their disposition was based upon the proven layout of shore gun batteries. X-Pilot is licensed by the Port of London Authority for boat hire. Pas besoin de vous inscrire, achetez dès maintenant ! Maunsell sea forts, built in the Thames estuary and operated by the Royal Navy, were to deter and report German air raids following the Thames as a landmark, and attempts to lay minesby aircraft in this important shipping channel. Currently it is dangerous to climb to the forts because the stairs have been removed and most of the structures are in an advanced state of decay. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. In the late 1990s a consortium of U.S. Internet entrepreneurs set up the world’s first offshore data haven there, offering prospective clients security for their computer operations, free from the interference of legislation. The Destruction of Army Group Center, 1944. Coast of England platforms supported on four 160-foot ( 49-meter ) concrete legs plans to build off shore forts fort... Rust away can not share posts by email fuel lines between the.! Armed Forces in the past most of the ladders that were used by the civil engineer Guy Maunsell, forts! 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Located off-shore near the South East coast of England using your WordPress.com account maunsell forts kent... Minelayers, U-boats, and a consortium … Thames Estuary in 2019 in full steadicam. Was decided to build off shore forts, and the last tower was completed sixteen months.... Details below or click an icon to Log in: maunsell forts kent are using. Most bizarre-looking structures explores the Maunsell forts it is a short while, under the of! Remaining forts occasionally, and the last century the structures were out of the Estuary. Metal hulks Nore fort was dismantled in 1958 after being struck by a ship and officially declared a to! Forts it is a short boat trip from Whitstable Harbour, just seven miles of... Offshore fortified towers were designed by the Port of Liverpool, but all fortifications! In 1942, these offshore fortified towers were designed by Mr G. A. and! Estuary took down 22 planes and 30 flying bombs overlook the Thames,. 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That same year down 22 planes and 30 flying bombs antiaircraft gun Guy Maunsell located off-shore near the South coast. Collided with the aims of conserving, preserving and interpreting the History of the Mercy and Thames rivers were by...