A recent visit with urbex T ! My 9 year old son. After some hard work in the stingers we gained access to the site.
Site information...
RAF St. Lawrence was located on the coast about two miles west of Ventnor. It was initially established as a 'Remote Reserve' for the Southbourne site (on the mainland at Bournemouth) and first became operational with mobile equipment in 1941. However, when the buried installation was constructed it was obvious that it had a dual function as an Emergency Alternative Reserve for RAF Ventnor. This was because the Buried Reserve constructed at the St.Boniface site was considered vulnerable in the event of another air-raid attack there. In use, unlike Ventnor, the site was found to have an excellent height finding capability, being situated only 44 feet above sea level and because of this it took on 24 hour working. Accommodation for personnel was in local hotels. Line of shoot was 170 degrees, i.e. 22 degrees more southerly than Ventnor's, so the coverage would not have been exactly the same and the range would have been shorter too. The two towers were of wood and were 105 feet high. The site continued in use until 1947.
Please note the below information (Not known at time of visit) Due to no onsite signs!
Special Site of Scientific Interest due to it having become the home of an unusual species of bat.
would-be visitors please be advised that this is the case and as the bunkers are sealed and as it is perfectly easy to photograph the remains from the closely adjacent coastal path, there is nothing at all to be gained but an up to £20000 fine for venturing into the field. The three huts in the trees should be regarded as even more strictly off-limits...... wooops !
I believe the bats are living in the costal bunkers and not the huts, or bunker in the woods we visited as this bunker was in no way sealed !
SAM_0378 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0352 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0353 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0355 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0356 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0359 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0357 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0358 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0360 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0362 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0364 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0365 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0363 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0367 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0366 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0368 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0369 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0371 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0372 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0373 by urbanisle, on Flickr
Site information...
RAF St. Lawrence was located on the coast about two miles west of Ventnor. It was initially established as a 'Remote Reserve' for the Southbourne site (on the mainland at Bournemouth) and first became operational with mobile equipment in 1941. However, when the buried installation was constructed it was obvious that it had a dual function as an Emergency Alternative Reserve for RAF Ventnor. This was because the Buried Reserve constructed at the St.Boniface site was considered vulnerable in the event of another air-raid attack there. In use, unlike Ventnor, the site was found to have an excellent height finding capability, being situated only 44 feet above sea level and because of this it took on 24 hour working. Accommodation for personnel was in local hotels. Line of shoot was 170 degrees, i.e. 22 degrees more southerly than Ventnor's, so the coverage would not have been exactly the same and the range would have been shorter too. The two towers were of wood and were 105 feet high. The site continued in use until 1947.
Please note the below information (Not known at time of visit) Due to no onsite signs!
Special Site of Scientific Interest due to it having become the home of an unusual species of bat.
would-be visitors please be advised that this is the case and as the bunkers are sealed and as it is perfectly easy to photograph the remains from the closely adjacent coastal path, there is nothing at all to be gained but an up to £20000 fine for venturing into the field. The three huts in the trees should be regarded as even more strictly off-limits...... wooops !
I believe the bats are living in the costal bunkers and not the huts, or bunker in the woods we visited as this bunker was in no way sealed !
SAM_0378 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0352 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0353 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0355 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0356 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0359 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0357 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0358 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0360 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0362 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0364 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0365 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0363 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0367 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0366 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0368 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0369 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0371 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0372 by urbanisle, on Flickr
SAM_0373 by urbanisle, on Flickr
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