I went and had a nose around Cliffe in Kent. As most of you know the big draw here is the big old Palmerston Fort and this was my supposed destination, but on arriving found entry to the big old place may be a bit tricky and didn't fancy it on me own, so has been pegged for another day when there is a few of us.
Anyway I found a few other bits around the site of interest so have compiled a little bit of history for each, for those inclined.
Hans Egede -
"The vessel is the Hans Egede. A wooden, auxiliary 3-masted vessel, built in 1922 by J. Th. Jorgensen at Thuro, Denmark. Apparently, she was reported damaged by fire 13/4' west of the North Hinder light vessel on the 21st August 1955. She was towed to Dover where the fire was extinguished. In 1957 she passed into the ownership of the Atlas Diesel Co. and was towed out of Dover by the tug Westercock. She then spent some years in the Medway as a coal and/or grain hulk.
"She was then towed to Cubits Town on the Thames. Unfortunately, as the tug Fossa from Gravesend was towing her up Sea Reach the strain on the structure, which had become weakened over the years, proved too much causing her to take in water and sink. After grounding on the Blyth Sands she was beached at Cliffe.
Nikki Wood remembers the Hans Egede when it was moored at Whitewall Creek opposite the Chatham Dockyard. Her father took a photo of it around 1962 (below). This must have been when it was a coal or grain hulk.
Taken from http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dkbrown/wreck.html
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The Brennan torpedo launch
The Brennan torpedo was a torpedo patented by Irish born Australian inventor Louis Brennan in 1877. It was powered by two contra-rotating propellors that were spun by rapidly pulling out wires from drums wound inside the torpedo. Differential speed on the wires connected to the shore station allowed the torpedo to be guided to its target, up to 2,000 yards (1,800 m) away, at speeds of up to 27 knots (31 mph).
The Brennan torpedo is often claimed as the world's first guided missile, but guided torpedoes invented by John Ericsson, John Louis Lay, and Victor von Scheliha all predate it; however, Brennan's torpedo was much simpler in its concept and worked over an acceptable range at a satisfactory speed so it might be more accurate to call it "the world's first practical guided missile".[1]
More at Wiki -
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Cliffe Battery
Ok this one has proven tricky. The story is that this is an WW2 Battery, but not is all as it seems. It is likely that this was actually an old lime kiln occupied by Mr Topy until 1910. it later underwent a military conversion into a battery and was occupied by the Home Guard. This would seem to be supported by the massive "fire places" under each supposed room of the structure. however all around are demolished buildings and corrugated steel sheeting, there is even an apparent search light or gun emplacement fitting, pretty cool conversion really.
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Salt Lane Shelters
I was just leaving the place and spotted these at the side of the road. These apparently served the employees of the nearby quarry and the few local residents during WW2. The place was full of Kent Mercury News papers, so if you haven't received yours for a few years its probably here. Lots of hibernating butterflies too.
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Ooh and the paddy field scenes in Full Metal Jacket were filmed in the marshes here.
A Good read if your interested in Cliffe. - http://www.archaeologyse.co.uk/ReportLibrary/2007/2007094-3126-Cliffe-PoolsRSPB-Reserve-HLS.pdf
Anyway I found a few other bits around the site of interest so have compiled a little bit of history for each, for those inclined.
Hans Egede -
"The vessel is the Hans Egede. A wooden, auxiliary 3-masted vessel, built in 1922 by J. Th. Jorgensen at Thuro, Denmark. Apparently, she was reported damaged by fire 13/4' west of the North Hinder light vessel on the 21st August 1955. She was towed to Dover where the fire was extinguished. In 1957 she passed into the ownership of the Atlas Diesel Co. and was towed out of Dover by the tug Westercock. She then spent some years in the Medway as a coal and/or grain hulk.
"She was then towed to Cubits Town on the Thames. Unfortunately, as the tug Fossa from Gravesend was towing her up Sea Reach the strain on the structure, which had become weakened over the years, proved too much causing her to take in water and sink. After grounding on the Blyth Sands she was beached at Cliffe.
Nikki Wood remembers the Hans Egede when it was moored at Whitewall Creek opposite the Chatham Dockyard. Her father took a photo of it around 1962 (below). This must have been when it was a coal or grain hulk.
Taken from http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~dkbrown/wreck.html
The Brennan torpedo launch
The Brennan torpedo was a torpedo patented by Irish born Australian inventor Louis Brennan in 1877. It was powered by two contra-rotating propellors that were spun by rapidly pulling out wires from drums wound inside the torpedo. Differential speed on the wires connected to the shore station allowed the torpedo to be guided to its target, up to 2,000 yards (1,800 m) away, at speeds of up to 27 knots (31 mph).
The Brennan torpedo is often claimed as the world's first guided missile, but guided torpedoes invented by John Ericsson, John Louis Lay, and Victor von Scheliha all predate it; however, Brennan's torpedo was much simpler in its concept and worked over an acceptable range at a satisfactory speed so it might be more accurate to call it "the world's first practical guided missile".[1]
More at Wiki -
Cliffe Battery
Ok this one has proven tricky. The story is that this is an WW2 Battery, but not is all as it seems. It is likely that this was actually an old lime kiln occupied by Mr Topy until 1910. it later underwent a military conversion into a battery and was occupied by the Home Guard. This would seem to be supported by the massive "fire places" under each supposed room of the structure. however all around are demolished buildings and corrugated steel sheeting, there is even an apparent search light or gun emplacement fitting, pretty cool conversion really.
Salt Lane Shelters
I was just leaving the place and spotted these at the side of the road. These apparently served the employees of the nearby quarry and the few local residents during WW2. The place was full of Kent Mercury News papers, so if you haven't received yours for a few years its probably here. Lots of hibernating butterflies too.
Ooh and the paddy field scenes in Full Metal Jacket were filmed in the marshes here.
A Good read if your interested in Cliffe. - http://www.archaeologyse.co.uk/ReportLibrary/2007/2007094-3126-Cliffe-PoolsRSPB-Reserve-HLS.pdf
