Hello again.
I'm sure this site is familiar to most on this site, so I will be unlikely to provide any insight into the place that isn't already known.
Long story short; it's an old naval base that used to train primarily 15 year old boys straight from school, back when that was the leaving age - up until 1976, when the school leaving age was raised to 16. I am not sure why this would result in the mothballing of an entire facility, because the kids are now 16 instead of 15?
The history of the site is fascinating, and I am not trying to handwave here, but there is better history out there than what I can provide. Especially as our visit got cut short.
I like the song by "Shep Woolley - The Long Covered Way". Clearly about Shotley / Ganges. I can tell you that it is a Bloody Big Mast.
We only managed to explore the mess halls this time. It was our first visit. We did get caught and persuaded away from the site. Incidentally, now's as good a time as any to get some cardio done.
This is a view alongside the messes towards Nelson Hall in the foreground
We happened upon these things on our way to the dining hall
Guessing the pink areas were for ladies. Because all ladies like pink. Fact.
I feel like everyone who has been here has taken pretty much exactly this photo. It is quite a stunning open space, to be fair.
Inside this hatch is an incredible amount of quano and dead pigeons.
Inside that room is piles of bird skeletons. I will refrain from posting the picture.
This place was all about food, getting the boys fed, avoiding wastage and breakage. This spot would have been so busy every day.
The mast and Felixstowe in the background.
This is where the various "meals" were piped into the "galley"
This room felt like a level in Portal 2
A door store room. There was also a room full of toilets, and another full of bathtubs.
The weird ducks in the dining room.
Here's a bar we found.
I later found out from family, that my former grandad used to manage the bars at Ganges for a time. His name was Pat / Paddy Rea. I wonder what he would think of this view.
We got a look at this building next.
It is around here we met the security guard and promptly vacated the premises. We'd love to go back for a deeper dive into areas such as the pool.
I hope you enjoyed our little trip together, there's always more next time.
I'm sure this site is familiar to most on this site, so I will be unlikely to provide any insight into the place that isn't already known.
Long story short; it's an old naval base that used to train primarily 15 year old boys straight from school, back when that was the leaving age - up until 1976, when the school leaving age was raised to 16. I am not sure why this would result in the mothballing of an entire facility, because the kids are now 16 instead of 15?
The history of the site is fascinating, and I am not trying to handwave here, but there is better history out there than what I can provide. Especially as our visit got cut short.
I like the song by "Shep Woolley - The Long Covered Way". Clearly about Shotley / Ganges. I can tell you that it is a Bloody Big Mast.
We only managed to explore the mess halls this time. It was our first visit. We did get caught and persuaded away from the site. Incidentally, now's as good a time as any to get some cardio done.
This is a view alongside the messes towards Nelson Hall in the foreground
We happened upon these things on our way to the dining hall
Guessing the pink areas were for ladies. Because all ladies like pink. Fact.
I feel like everyone who has been here has taken pretty much exactly this photo. It is quite a stunning open space, to be fair.
Inside this hatch is an incredible amount of quano and dead pigeons.
Inside that room is piles of bird skeletons. I will refrain from posting the picture.
This place was all about food, getting the boys fed, avoiding wastage and breakage. This spot would have been so busy every day.
The mast and Felixstowe in the background.
This is where the various "meals" were piped into the "galley"
This room felt like a level in Portal 2
A door store room. There was also a room full of toilets, and another full of bathtubs.
The weird ducks in the dining room.
Here's a bar we found.
I later found out from family, that my former grandad used to manage the bars at Ganges for a time. His name was Pat / Paddy Rea. I wonder what he would think of this view.
We got a look at this building next.
It is around here we met the security guard and promptly vacated the premises. We'd love to go back for a deeper dive into areas such as the pool.
I hope you enjoyed our little trip together, there's always more next time.
