Tilbury aa gun battery,essex.

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paulie_p

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Tilbury battery,essex.

Popped down here a little while back.........

"This gun battery was constructed in 1890, near Coalhouse Fort, in the village of East Tilbury. It was originally armed with two 10-inch and four 6-inch disappearing guns."

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These few by my friend as mine didn't come out too well

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Glad you like them.

I have a few more photos wasn't sure how many to post tbh.

will put them up later.
 
Same here, I'd say it's coastal, it's built in the same fashion as the palmerston forts. The AA gun positions (being developed after aircraft themselves) had much less thought and effort put into the construction. Theyre mostly made of concrete.

Edit: Also, I can't see a 10 inch shell being used for AAA. Wouldn't like to think about that coming back to earth!
 
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Do I know you ?
Do you have anything to do with Coalhouse Fort's organisation ?
I thought I'd ask just in case.
 
Some nice pics there,

Not like any of the AAs I've seen.
Would agree with the it's coastal too, from an earlier age - they were rushing them up in WW2 - no time for craftsmen to lay bricks like that. Biggest gun I know of in AA site is 4.5", I reckon that was to provide coastal cover too - usual AA gun was 3.7".
 
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Bah I didnt even notice the mistake, and put 2 & 2 together, I just saw the title then looked at the report.
Yes Id have to agree with the others, unless this was later used for AA, which eveidence on the surface should show, then I have to say this is a coastal defence from the Palmerson era ;)

EDIT: info here - http://sub-ex.blogspot.com/2009/01/east-tilbury-battery-essex.html
 
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I've removed "aa" from the threads title.

Heres a few extra shots for as requested,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


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Whether it's firing AA shells, chicken eggs or dog poo, it looks like a really nice battery to explore. Original signs are great.

No, I'm sure you wouldnt know me.:)
 
just pulled my trusty coalhouse fort guide from the bookshelf and blown the dust off

the pictures here are off east tilbury battery - constructed in 1890-91 - just north of coalhouse fort inland

the battery was carefully crafted into the landscape so that from all angles it could not be seen

the battery was provided with 2 x 10 inch and 4 x 6 inch breech loading guns mounted in 'pits' below the slope of the ground

they were on disappearing carriages i.e. they were raised up to the firing position - fired - and then dropped down back below the parapet to avoid detection - smokeless gunpowder (introduced in 1889) added to their lethality

range was in excess of 8,000 yards - they were fast firing and had longer range than the guns at coalhouse - i will try and upload a photo of these strange looking guns

this style of fort/gun emplacement is called a twydall profile - tilbury is the best surviving example in the UK

the land was returned to the local farmer in 1930

there is the site of an AA battery nearby - again further inland to the west - this is ww2 vintage

trust this is of help
 
Hi Paulie ;
You have only photo'd one third of the site (Which is exactly what i did on my first visit !!!)This place is SO overgrown that i didnt know that there was a lot, lot more thru the WEEDS !!
Nice report mate KEEP IT UP !!!!!
 

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