PeroXide
April 8th, 2006, 00:14
Hiya guys and girls! Been watching the forum for a while now, and finally got the opportunity to go out and explore the other day (Thursday 6th April).
----------------------
Grain Tower Battery:
----------------------
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%20Map.jpg
The fort is approximately 600m out into the River Medway Estuary between Grain and Sheerness, and only accessible a couple of hours either side of low tide. There's a stone causeway leading out to it, but don't trust it! It's broken up in places, and generally covered in a few inches of mud and seaweed!
Basically, it was built in 1855, but modified during WW1 and WW2 to defend Chatham and London from the Germans. These modifications include an accomodation block added onto the side and built on stilts, a watchtower, and 4 large guns (now removed).
But enough description, on to the pictures!
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%201.jpg
Above: the view along the causeway towards the tower. Although they aren't visible, the famous Redsands Forts are many miles directly behind.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%202.jpg
Above: a closer view of the fort. The brick structure on stilts is the more recent (WW2) accomodation block. The observation tower and origional 1855 base are obvious. The chain wrapped around the base was installed to strengthen the structure - apparently it would prevent it from splitting open if struck by and enemy torpedo. Another chain origionally connected to an anchor on the Sheerness side of the estuary to prevent ships from entering the River Medway - this is long-gone.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%203.jpg
Above: the view back towards Grain powerstation from in amongst the stilts supporting the accomodation block.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%204.jpg
Above: the shell-hoist, which lifted shells from the storage room in the lower area of the fort, to the rapid-fire guns out on top.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%205.jpg
Above: the view out of the origional (1855) part of the fort.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%206.jpg
Above: a view up one of the 1855 spiral staircases.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%207.jpg
Above: the urininals in the accomodation block, still (nearly) intact.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%208.jpg
Above: up on the 2nd floor of the watchtower now, looking into the Battery Office.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%209.jpg
Above: the heavy blast-door on the Battery Office. These things have a habit of opening and then slamming shut in strong winds, so don't be too alarmed if you hear a loud bang from above whilst down in the bowels of the fort! (We found this out from bitter experience - I don't think I've ever had so much adrenaline flowing through my veins at once before!!!)
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2010.jpg
Above: the graffiti inside the Battery Office.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2011.jpg
Above: looking across the estuary to Sheerness. The bolts in the concrete floor are all that remains of the 4.7" gun that used to stand here.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2012.jpg
Above: looking from the top of the watchtower back along the causeway to Grain.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2013.jpg
Above: the top of the shell-hoist, which is right next to one of the 6-pounder gun emplacements.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2014.jpg
Above: looking up the watchtower from the accomodation block.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2015.jpg
Above: in the accomodation block, looking from the mess into the kitchen. Once again, plenty of graffiti present.
At this point, we had to head back to dry land due to the tide rapidly coming in around us! Be warned: the mudbank on which the fort is built is very flat, so the tide comes in very quickly.
Another point to note: there aren't any steps to initially get onto the fort, but instead a rough 25-ft concrete wall and rope to grip on to - if you're going to come here, you have to be a half-decent climber! And a second person to pass camera gear up to you once you're onboard is extremely helpful - climbing with a camera and bag slung over your shoulder isn't easy!
Hopefully I'll be heading back to the fort soon, so watch out for a second report and plenty more photos - what you've seen here is only a fraction of what's on offer - the lack of memory in the camera being the main reason!
-- Explored by Benj "++ peroXide ++" Clifton and Stuart Bryce.
----------------------
Grain Tower Battery:
----------------------
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%20Map.jpg
The fort is approximately 600m out into the River Medway Estuary between Grain and Sheerness, and only accessible a couple of hours either side of low tide. There's a stone causeway leading out to it, but don't trust it! It's broken up in places, and generally covered in a few inches of mud and seaweed!
Basically, it was built in 1855, but modified during WW1 and WW2 to defend Chatham and London from the Germans. These modifications include an accomodation block added onto the side and built on stilts, a watchtower, and 4 large guns (now removed).
But enough description, on to the pictures!
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%201.jpg
Above: the view along the causeway towards the tower. Although they aren't visible, the famous Redsands Forts are many miles directly behind.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%202.jpg
Above: a closer view of the fort. The brick structure on stilts is the more recent (WW2) accomodation block. The observation tower and origional 1855 base are obvious. The chain wrapped around the base was installed to strengthen the structure - apparently it would prevent it from splitting open if struck by and enemy torpedo. Another chain origionally connected to an anchor on the Sheerness side of the estuary to prevent ships from entering the River Medway - this is long-gone.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%203.jpg
Above: the view back towards Grain powerstation from in amongst the stilts supporting the accomodation block.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%204.jpg
Above: the shell-hoist, which lifted shells from the storage room in the lower area of the fort, to the rapid-fire guns out on top.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%205.jpg
Above: the view out of the origional (1855) part of the fort.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%206.jpg
Above: a view up one of the 1855 spiral staircases.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%207.jpg
Above: the urininals in the accomodation block, still (nearly) intact.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%208.jpg
Above: up on the 2nd floor of the watchtower now, looking into the Battery Office.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%209.jpg
Above: the heavy blast-door on the Battery Office. These things have a habit of opening and then slamming shut in strong winds, so don't be too alarmed if you hear a loud bang from above whilst down in the bowels of the fort! (We found this out from bitter experience - I don't think I've ever had so much adrenaline flowing through my veins at once before!!!)
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2010.jpg
Above: the graffiti inside the Battery Office.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2011.jpg
Above: looking across the estuary to Sheerness. The bolts in the concrete floor are all that remains of the 4.7" gun that used to stand here.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2012.jpg
Above: looking from the top of the watchtower back along the causeway to Grain.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2013.jpg
Above: the top of the shell-hoist, which is right next to one of the 6-pounder gun emplacements.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2014.jpg
Above: looking up the watchtower from the accomodation block.
http://82.34.82.28/UK%20Exploration/Grain%20Tower%20Battery%2015.jpg
Above: in the accomodation block, looking from the mess into the kitchen. Once again, plenty of graffiti present.
At this point, we had to head back to dry land due to the tide rapidly coming in around us! Be warned: the mudbank on which the fort is built is very flat, so the tide comes in very quickly.
Another point to note: there aren't any steps to initially get onto the fort, but instead a rough 25-ft concrete wall and rope to grip on to - if you're going to come here, you have to be a half-decent climber! And a second person to pass camera gear up to you once you're onboard is extremely helpful - climbing with a camera and bag slung over your shoulder isn't easy!
Hopefully I'll be heading back to the fort soon, so watch out for a second report and plenty more photos - what you've seen here is only a fraction of what's on offer - the lack of memory in the camera being the main reason!
-- Explored by Benj "++ peroXide ++" Clifton and Stuart Bryce.