Beacon Hill Fort. Harwich. Aug 13.

[Black Shuck]

Beacon Hill Battery was one of six coastal batteries built by the Home Force's Eastern Command to defend the port of Harwich. Construction on the battery began in 1889 and was completed in 1892, with the battery containing one 10-inch and two 4.7-inch quick-firing guns. An 8-inch gun on a hydro-pneumatic mounting was added in 1893 and a further 6-inch breech loading gun was in position by December 1901, by which time the 8-inch gun had been removed. The battery was in use throughout the First World War. In May 1940 a new battery was built at Beacon Hill with one twin 6-pounder gun called Cornwallis Battery. Beacon Hill Battery was modified and rebuilt between 1940 and 1941, acquiring a new engine room, Radio Direction Finder tower, concrete gun house for 6-inch weapons, dining hall, cookhouse and Battery Observation Post. During the Second World War the battery was manned by 176 Battery of the Suffolk Heavy Regiment Royal Artillery (Territorial Army) and later 283 Battery of the 515 Coast Regiment. The site was reduced to care and maintenance in 1944 and decommissioned in 1956. Beacon Hill Battery survives in complete condition. Aerial photography from 1998 shows the two 6-inch gun emplacements and the 6-pounder emplacement in good condition, as well as the battery observation post, position finder and coastal artillery searchlights. Two pillboxes, over 10 ancillary buildings including the magazines remain. A rare example of a hexagonal Radio Direction Finder tower remains in exceptionally well preserved form. Taken from Pastscape. The pics.



Very rare example of a hexagonal radar tower.





























Thanks for looking.

 

[night crawler]

Well done my man great report

 

[Black Shuck]

Well done my man great report

Thanks Nightcrawler, wanted to do this one for a long long time. One of the most amazing ww2 sites I've ever had the privelege to visit.

 

[krela]

Aaaah awesome. I would love to go here.

 

[Black Shuck]

Aaaah awesome. I would love to go here.

Thanks Krela, the feeling of military history was very evident!

 

[krela]

Yus, and you know I love me a bit of WW2 red brick and concrete porn!

 

[Black Shuck]

Yus, and you know I love me a bit of WW2 red brick and concrete porn!

Indeed I do gaffer!

 

[flyboys90]

Amazing site best I,ve seen,thanks for sharing.

 

[Black Shuck]

Amazing site best I,ve seen,thanks for sharing.

Wow, thanks for that Flyboys. Glad you liked it!

 

[RichCooper]

Great report mate : )Looks like you had a good time

 

[Black Shuck]

Great report mate : )Looks like you had a good time

I certainly did Rich. I've seen this place so many times, always wanted to visit!

 

[RichCooper]

Yea I can understand that would love a wander around there myself

 

[outkast]

Nice pics, theres a plan of the place floating around the net somewhere, you really need it if you want to cover the whole site.

 

[Black Shuck]

Great report mate Looks like you had a good time

I've always liked the look of this place. It's been very inspirational for me.

 

[cptpies]

A very timely report as the role of the radar tower has recently been clarified (Pastscape entries for these are confused to say the least). There are three known to be extant, this one, one at Coalhouse Fort and another at Tollesbury on the Blackwater. The radar was an adapted naval type (Type 287) and was used to monitor river traffic over the controlled minefield when it wasn't visible from the nearby XDO post. The radar could pass an accurate enough range and bearing to the XDO post to allow detonation of the closest mines with a reasonable chance of success.

I've linked your picture to the relevant placemark on the edob overlay BS.

 

[oldscrote]

That's some very impressive concrete porn Shucky old mate,wonder why they stove part of the roof in in picture 7.

 

[UrbanX]

"That needs climbing!"

Awesome stuff, that looks like a really good day exploring there, I need to go!

Thanks for sharing great photos as usual!

 

[Black Shuck]

A very timely report as the role of the radar tower has recently been clarified (Pastscape entries for these are confused to say the least). There are three known to be extant, this one, one at Coalhouse Fort and another at Tollesbury on the Blackwater. The radar was an adapted naval type (Type 287) and was used to monitor river traffic over the controlled minefield when it wasn't visible from the nearby XDO post. The radar could pass an accurate enough range and bearing to the XDO post to allow detonation of the closest mines with a reasonable chance of success.

I've linked your picture to the relevant placemark on the edob overlay BS.

Thanks Cptpies!, it's good to know I can be of use for something!

 

[Black Shuck]

That's some very impressive concrete porn Shucky old mate,wonder why they stove part of the roof in in picture 7.

God know Os. I've seen numerous reports of this fort and it's always captivated me.

 

[Black Shuck]

"That needs climbing!"

Awesome stuff, that looks like a really good day exploring there, I need to go!

Thanks for sharing great photos as usual!

X! This pales into insignificance in the wake of some of your reports from Europe. Hahahahah!!! Climb?... Shuck!!!....... You're a full ten to twelve years younger than me sir, and a lot more nubile and quicker and better at climbing!!! lol, plus the fact I'm **** scared of heights!.... It was enough for old Shucky to make it up to the top of the lookout without passing out, though I have to say, the view from the second stage was amazing!. If you NEED, to go, I'd recommend a visit when the site doesn't mimic the amazon basin, as the place was like a tropical rainforest!... I will return when the cold returns!! lol!! I have a feeling I missed a shitload of bunkers and underground shizz that need lighting up with wirewool and long exposure!!