We then headed into the actual garrison – the housing area for the troops working on the batteries. Here is a description of the site, and Officer’s Mess (the actual housing area now revamped as properties) from officers-mess.co.uk.
The Shoebury Garrison Dating back to 1797 when a signal station was erected at the start of the Napoleonic War, Shoebury Garrison is steeped in British Military history and has long been associated with the valour of the armed forces. Having housed Royal Artillery and Gunnery schools since the early 1800′s, Shoebury Garrison is now recognised as an area of national importance and is protected – much of it as a conservation area. Many of the historical buildings are listed and a great deal of the site within the ancient ramparts is protected by English Heritage as scheduled ancient monuments. The Officers’ Mess The buildings of The Officers’ Mess are undoubtedly the most prestigious listed buildings within the historic Shoebury Garrison. The grand and elegant regeneration respects and enhances the heritage of this wonderful site. The sophisticated re-development includes a section of the original Coast Guard Station, the only pre-Garrison building on the site, that now forms part of the South-facing side of The Officers’ Mess. As you walk through the stunning landscaped grounds your eye is lead to the spectacular Grand Hall where some of the original features have been restored to an outstanding finish with beautiful high ceilings and grand features and characteristics to complement its appearance. The very fabric of The Officers’ Mess is imbued with the privilege and honour of its illustrious past – just a mere glance inside the building provides a small window on a forgotten era of nobility and grandeur. An ethos that is about to come back to life inside the walls of this imposing and magnificent building.
What I believe to be the actual Officer’s Mess
Simple air-raid shelters – this one was in a park, sealed, but some were open in people’s back gardens (the lucky Bs)
Memorial to a fatal incident
A shot with the Mess in the background, and an display made of an Anti-Tank pimple and old wooden thing
Joe and I then trekked away down the coast to the Cold War Anti-Submarine Boom. Designed simply to block of Russian subs, this massive boom was built to replace a 1939-40 one from the second world war, which was smaller in scale.
From here you could see the Shivering Sands seaforts just above the boom, as in this image here:
These are WW2 gun batteries placed in the sea – here is a close up of the Redsands similar forts courtesy of Dave Bullock.
So, finally, the Shoebury trip was over – we still say it was the best visit we’ve had yet, although we’ve got a few places lined up to top it!
For pictures of the whole day from me, go to these addresses:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.334559163232954.78255.238743826147822&type=3
And for Joe’s go here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.334429693245901.78232.238743826147822&type=3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAvQBoxslH0
Grain tower is visible here – a Napoleonic/WW2 Sea battery
Hello, great website, its nice to see people taking an interest in South Essex history. In your photos of the Garrison, the Officers mess is not the building you have in your photo. The Officers Mess is directly opposite that building and it is currently being worked on by builders as its been split into several properties, so the great big long building thats situated next to the White House directly overlooking the sea is the Officers Mess.