After a cheery wave to the mrs and the promise "I'm just nipping off to Dover, I'll be back in an hour or so", I set off in search of some interesting bits and bobs I'd seen on Google Earth.
How wrong was I?! As soon as I'd found one structure I stumbled on another and another... Six hours later I was in serious trouble!
This turned out to be Wanstone battery which was used during WW2 and consists of two large guns fed by two equally large magazines set on either side connected to the gun emplacements by purpose built concrete paths.
Also on site is an AA battery with associated ammunition stores, guard room, barracks, utility rooms and a command post. Apparently there is a deep shelter on site which has been totally demolished.
Observation post
Control bunker
One of the octagonal magazines for the AA battery
I was just about to head off when I saw this...
The control centre for one of the big gun emplacements
and one of the subtle magazines flanking it
Magazine entrance
RSJ support in one of the Magazines
Charge room inside the magazine
The floors are concrete but covered in a fine layer of rust flakes which have fallen from the ceiling. I'm not sure what the tubes are, my best guess is ventilation - all four of the magazines have them.
One control centre
and the other...
Utility bunker
This turned out to be much more than I initially expected and I'm really happy with what I found. The site has such a small amount of graffiti and vandalism it's unreal.
The AA battery and first big gun emplacement is really easy to explore but the second set (which is a little further east) is heaving with nettles, brambles and hawthorn. There's also a guard house with some amazing features - if only I'd taken a fifth set of batteries!
P.S. sorry for the pants photos, I'm still getting used to this photo lark.
Cheers for looking!
How wrong was I?! As soon as I'd found one structure I stumbled on another and another... Six hours later I was in serious trouble!
This turned out to be Wanstone battery which was used during WW2 and consists of two large guns fed by two equally large magazines set on either side connected to the gun emplacements by purpose built concrete paths.
Also on site is an AA battery with associated ammunition stores, guard room, barracks, utility rooms and a command post. Apparently there is a deep shelter on site which has been totally demolished.
Observation post
Control bunker
One of the octagonal magazines for the AA battery
I was just about to head off when I saw this...
The control centre for one of the big gun emplacements
and one of the subtle magazines flanking it
Magazine entrance
RSJ support in one of the Magazines
Charge room inside the magazine
The floors are concrete but covered in a fine layer of rust flakes which have fallen from the ceiling. I'm not sure what the tubes are, my best guess is ventilation - all four of the magazines have them.
One control centre
and the other...
Utility bunker
This turned out to be much more than I initially expected and I'm really happy with what I found. The site has such a small amount of graffiti and vandalism it's unreal.
The AA battery and first big gun emplacement is really easy to explore but the second set (which is a little further east) is heaving with nettles, brambles and hawthorn. There's also a guard house with some amazing features - if only I'd taken a fifth set of batteries!
P.S. sorry for the pants photos, I'm still getting used to this photo lark.
Cheers for looking!