Fort Henry, Poole

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Nobby1974

Active member
Joined
Sep 3, 2009
Messages
35
Reaction score
83
I was down in Poole recently and took the opportunity to visit Fort Henry at Redend Point, Poole Harbour. You can see a picture of the interior here (I've entered it in a National Trust competition, there's some other good stuff there too - and some not so good - but worth a look!):

Fort Henry

It's quite a symbolic place and I've a few other pictures of it which I'll get online soon. It is owned by the National Trust, and is one of Britain's most important relics of World War Two. 90-feet long, with concrete walls three feet thick and an observation slit 80 feet long it is the largest and strongest observation post built in Britain. From here on 18th April 1944 Churchill, George VI, Mountbatten and Generals Montgomery and Eisenhower watched Operation Smash - the dry run for the D-Day Landings - and a carpet bombing demonstration, which perhaps explains why it is so heavily built! As historic buildings go it is quite small, but it is very well cared for. I happen to think it is a very cool place!

It's a long way to go for a very easy and short 'explore' if you're not local, and even if you are it involves a trip on the ferry over to Studland. However if you're ever in the area it is well worth a look if only for the feeling that a very important decision (one which in all certainty changed all our lives) was made based on what was witnessed from here 55 years ago.

Please don't feel obliged to vote for my picture by the way (although votes are appreciated!)
 
Last edited:
Britains longest observation slit next to a well known nudist beach, Coincidence? I think not:lol:
 
LOL! By all accounts there was another pillbox further along the beach on the edge of the dunes until quite recently... when it was demolished because it was being used for 'observing' in exactly that way!
 
There are also a few more pillbox's (3 i think) just down the road on Studland heath, i found them once by accident but cant remember where they are.
 
There are also a few more pillbox's (3 i think) just down the road on Studland heath, i found them once by accident but cant remember where they are.

Check out the DoB GE overlay (in my sig) all the sites are on there.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top