Join me as I take a trip out to visit the abandoned WW2 Army Maunsell forts - (Red Sands Fort) in the Thames Estuary on a beautiful, still October day in 2018. When I was invited onboard The "Sea Horse" with the Foxwell Family to sail out to see these forts I jumped at the chance. I've long wanted to visit them and have previously only seen from a distance - as tiny silhouettes on the horizon from Shellness Beach
The army forts were constructed in the Thames Estuary during WW2 to defend against enemy naval and aerial attacks. They were abandoned in 1956. Pirate radio stations used them between 1964 and 1967 but since then they stand empty and subjected to the elements.
Project Red Sands was set up several years ago with the aim of preserving the history of these forts and to try to restore them. Their website is here:-
www.project-redsand.com/
Also, many thanks to Dave Roberts
www.gulbekian.plus.com
for info about the forts
and British Pathé for the amazing vintage fort footage
On our way out to the Redsands Fort, we pass by 4 19th century forts, built to protect Chatham Dockyard, and the Medway, from enemy invasion.
Thank you for watching.
Nicola