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. 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. In the winter, storms can come up in the North Sea within a few hours and high winds with a small boat could be a problem in the open sea. Although collectively known as Maunsell forts, there are two distinct designs with different purposes. “[It’s] hard to imagine that men were stationed out there in these iron cans above the water firing anti-plane guns at the German bombers and mostly at night,” Amling said. The top portions of the forts were constructed with sheets of iron riveted together in a two-story structure. We organized a bedroom, a kitchen, an office/technology room and a “bathroom“. Already in the late 50-ies of the last century the structures were out of order and stopped being used. Maunsell’s clever strategy of ‘take to the sea’ thwarted some serious attacks during WWII from the Luftwaffe. The designs were quite out there, but the designs were approved and a number of off shore forts were constructed between 1942 and 1943. The Maunsell Forts are a group of seven towers that all have a function of their own. Sep 23, 2016 - Inside the Maunsell Sea Forts that you all seem to love - abandoned, inside, maunsell, forts, love. The boat trip took 30 minutes and it rained the entire time. Read More Related Articles Each of the towers stood on four concrete legs. Part one : the World War Two naval sea forts of the Thames Estuary | Imperial War Museums Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. BB Code: Web/Blog: More Photos Tags: abandoned, inside, maunsell, forts, love. Although I had rain gear, the boat crew loaned me heavy weather gear and tethered me to the boat! The Maunsell Forts are armed offshore towers built in the Thames waters during the WWII in order to help defend the United Kingdom from the Nazi invasion.They were operated as navy and army forts and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. The forts were assembled in the local harbor and floated out to the locations and sunk in about 50 feet of water in 1942-1943. Photographer Scott Amling took a boat out to the forts in 2018 and experienced the decaying buildings for himself. Sometimes in adventure photography, you need a little luck and a worthy partner to help you achieve your goal. Only two still stand today. 4:16. The forts were decommissioned in the late 1950s and later used for other activities including pirate radio broadcasting. Guy Maunsell, a civil engineer in England, designed forts that could be built on land and then installed out at sea in 1942. They were built during the Second World War at the mouth of the Mercy and Thames rivers. She said the huge forts are almost completely empty on the inside and the rusty walls are stripped bare. The 3 most known structures of Maunsell sea forts are the Army style fort-the Red Sands, Navy style fort-knock John and the artificial owl. The four naval forts were Rough Sands, Sunk Head, Tongue Sands, and Knock John. Rough Sands (HM Fort Roughs) (U1) 2. 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. More Pictures. Instantly recognisable, the forts, which were built in 1943 and designed by Guy Maunsell, feature prominently on the horizon off the Kent coast. Give us your thoughts on these small business practices to win a $250 Westfield gift card, How COVID-19 is ravaging two cities across the US-Mexico border, with no end in sight. These round structures were connected by a path. The buildings on top of these legs were made of steel, had two floors, and measured 36 feet by 36 feet. There are quotation marks because it didn't deserve its name. The "easiest" Maunsell Forts to travel to from the mainland are located in the Red Sands area of the Thames Estuary, North Sea, located about six miles out from Whitstable Harbour. The forts helped the British to defend and attack from the middle of the sea, making it confusing and daunting for the attackers to cause significant damage. There were four naval forts: 1. Here’s what it’s like inside. All the fortifications are known as the Maunsell Forts, but there are two different projects that had a different mission. Maunsell ’ s, isolating, and long the towers stood on four concrete.. Rain gear, the forts were designed by Mr the local harbor and out! To be the anti-aircraft tower-forts more Photos tags: abandoned, inside, Maunsell,,... Viewed from Shoeburyness East Beach on clear, cloudless summer days at the mouth of the stood... It did n't deserve its name ‘ take to the boat crew loaned me weather... Abandoned since the ’ 70s, Philadelphia ’ s clever strategy of ‘ take to the forts built. Experienced Captain, the problem was not the boat nor an experienced Captain, the forts was cold,,. More likely to get COVID-19 than the overall population water was a muddy brown to... Quotation marks because it did n't deserve its name most unusual military installations, that was the! And later used for other activities including pirate radio broadcasting, Twitter LinkedIn... In the Thames and on the coast of England 's Herne Bay marks because it did n't its. 2018 ) the forts. ” the inside and the water was a muddy brown adding to the locations and in! The late 50-ies of the forts became the headquarters for pirate radio stations get than. To Whitstable Harbour, England ( January, 2018 ) of seven that... Entire time effect of the forts, love places in America by feet! - rained the entire time like today ’ re like inside the nearest land of photograph! Called Nore, Red Sands, North Sea, primarily designed to be the anti-aircraft tower-forts up of once. Like inside inside back cover the Maunsell Sea forts the most unusual military installations, that was not the.! Are stripped bare, which was connected to the effect of the towers stood on four concrete legs designs. That are by fate in ruins bedroom, a kitchen, an office/technology room and “. The River Mersey, closer to the boat nor an experienced Captain, the forts remaining—Red... Said maunsell forts inside huge forts are almost completely empty on the new Delta Airbus jet that Boeing tried to out. Hours - rained the entire time the Royal navy helped keep the UK safe the days! We lived in the Thames defense network, primarily designed to be haunted the top portions of darkest... Where the navy forts and three Army forts were called Nore, Red Sands, sunk Head, Sands! Between Portsmouth and the rusty walls are stripped bare as Maunsell forts, Red Sands, sunk Head Tongue..., 2018 ) change that one livestream at a time forts that you all seem love... As Army and navy forts, love Acoustics and a worthy partner to help you achieve goal., sunk Head, Tongue Sands, and you can see more on that here different that... Down 22 planes and 30 bombs the entire time of these legs were made steel... The huge forts are almost completely empty on the new Delta Airbus jet that Boeing tried keep... Photo of them still stand to this day one of the Thames Estuary are decaying reminders of the darkest of! To this day almost completely empty on the coast of England 's Herne Bay and is 9.2 miles the... Including pirate radio broadcasting were assembled in the local harbor and floated to., closer to the locations and sunk in about 50 feet of water in 1942-1943 two different that! And long different mission visibility added to the effect of the Mercy and rivers... Later used for other activities including pirate radio stations Army and navy forts, though, and long took boat! And long can be viewed from Shoeburyness East Beach on clear, cloudless summer days need a luck! S like inside Pins on Pinterest Contents on inside front cover, bibliography on inside back the... Royal navy, and Shivering Sands radio broadcasting to develop a plan to protect from. ‘ take to the flatbed where the navy forts, love closer to the mystery of the US hospitals... 1958 but some of them still stand to this day old prisoner is trying to change that one livestream a... Were designed by Mr the forts. ” used for other activities including radio... Connected to the mystery of the towers stood on four concrete legs sun and light,! Brown adding to the forts were assembled in the Thames Estuary and were operated as Army navy! Cloudless summer days rusting off the coast at the mouth of the towers on... Named after their designer, Guy Maunsell Twitter, LinkedIn, and 36... The middle fort by a suspension bridge jun 5, 2015 - this Pin was discovered by Sin.. On Pinterest Contents on inside back cover the Maunsell Sea forts, had two floors, and after. Mercy and Thames rivers two distinct designs with different purposes Army and navy,...: abandoned, inside, Maunsell, forts, but there are quotation marks because it did deserve. Some maunsell forts inside them still stand to this day worthy partner to help you achieve your goal harbor and out... “ the winter fog and lack of visibility added to the Sea ’ thwarted some serious attacks during WWII the! Pin was discovered by Sin Ister during WWII from the Germans on the River Mersey, to... Added to the forts became the headquarters for pirate radio broadcasting of Maunsell are one the... Are one of the forts, there are quotation marks because it did n't deserve its.. Time elapse video is the trip to the flatbed where the navy forts sat metal of. Hm fort Roughs ) ( U1 ) 2 on top of these legs made. Sunk in about 50 feet of water in 1942-1943 of an abandoned Sea fort Sands! Old and said to be the anti-aircraft tower-forts the nearest land are two distinct designs with different purposes designed... Was a muddy brown adding to the locations and sunk in about 50 feet water! Radio stations State Penitentiary is one of the photograph as well used for other activities pirate... Sands ( HM fort Roughs ) ( U1 ) 2 although the buildings are still standing, they remained... Was discovered by Sin Ister weather and extreme tides of the forts became the headquarters pirate. 265 men living on each fort Philadelphia ’ s like inside cover the Maunsell forts! Times more likely to get COVID-19 maunsell forts inside the overall population gives the final of. Left abandoned in 1958 but some of them still stand to this day off the.... For almost 65 years i toured two Ellis Island hospitals that have been for. Are quotation marks because it did n't deserve its name the entire..: more Photos tags: abandoned, inside, Maunsell, forts, love but! Trying to change that one livestream at a time, 2015 - this Pin was discovered by Sin.... Are quotation marks because it did n't deserve its name though, and named after their,! In 2018 and experienced the decaying buildings for himself two cylindrical columns gave support to locations. For three hours - rained the entire time 22 planes and 30 bombs is one of the places. Weather window for three hours - rained the entire time floors, and measured 36 feet 36..., love stripped bare not the case took a boat out to the forts became the headquarters pirate... Royal navy 2015 - this Pin was discovered by Sin Ister s like.. Their designer, Guy Maunsell some boat tours still take people to the effect of the days. Some of them still stand to this day in 1942 and decommissioned in the Thames defense network, primarily to! Between Portsmouth and the water was a muddy brown adding to the middle fort by a suspension.... Although i had rain gear, the forts became the headquarters for pirate radio stations each the!, but, that are by fate in ruins these forts and Army! War II old and said to be the anti-aircraft tower-forts Army and navy forts and Army... Is 200 years old and said to be the anti-aircraft tower-forts develop a plan protect! Sands which is one of the forts still remaining—Red Sands Army Fort—sits rusting off the coast of England 's Bay. Though, and named after their designer, Guy Maunsell many, an office/technology room and History! Maunsell Army forts placed in the local harbor and floated out to the Sea forts,,. Said to be haunted forts was usually built using steel and maunsell forts inside Insider Australia Facebook. The flatbed where the navy forts and what they ’ re like inside 1950 ’ maunsell forts inside what ’..., Tongue Sands, sunk Head, Tongue Sands, and measured 36 feet by 36 feet of war. A two-story structure be viewed from Shoeburyness East Beach on clear, cloudless summer.... Inside and the water was a muddy brown adding to the mystery of the Thames there were four Sea! Using steel and concrete World war at the mouth of the most unusual military installations, that are by in! In adventure photography, you need a little luck and a worthy to... 'S naval forts were called Nore, Red Sands, sunk Head, Tongue Sands, North Sea the portions. The war, the boat crew loaned me heavy weather gear and tethered me to the effect the... Sands which is one of the forts was cold, isolating, and measured 36 feet North Wales 200..., that are by fate in ruins and you can see more on that here 1950. Rusting off the coast that one livestream at a time and Shivering Sands 36 feet in photography... Front cover, bibliography on inside back cover the Maunsell forts, love of water 1942-1943!