Brennan Torpedo Station – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA The Brennan torpedo was invented by Louis Brennan in 1877. Two propellers were rapidly spun by wires wound up inside the torpedo being released. Once launched from a land station, the weapon could potentially hit a target 1,800 metres away, travelling up to 31mph. Whilst Louis…
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Benfleet’s pillbox stands overlooking East Haven Creek – the channel of water separating Canvey Island from the mainland. Built at around 1939/1940, the Second World War pillbox is not in the best condition – decaying and crumbling yet thankfully isolated from any bustling areas. The five sided defence has four loop holes, designed for a Bren…
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Redesigned to block off Russian subs in 1950-53, the boom was originally built on a smaller scale out of wood in 1944 during World War Two to block off enemy vessels from entering the Thames and attacking anchored shipping. It was also used as a possible mounting point for anti-aircraft guns and searchlights. It has…
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First visited by BTP Liam in 2011, revisited 2017. “I went on a day trip to Lavenham, in Sudbury back in 2011, and came across some relevant, although distant, material. On the A130 and A12 motorways, I spotted tons of pillboxes, most being either standard rectangular or 50p shapes, many identical (along the GHQ line). Despite not being…
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The Allhallows decoy was constructed sometime between 1940 and 1941 to defend oil storage facilities nearby on the Isle of Grain. It was one of eleven designated QF controlled fire decoys of P series; or petroleum division. It’s purpose was to simulate burning oil industries to trick the Luftwaffe into thinking the real targets had…
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First visited by BTP Liam in 2011, we returned to the site 7 years later so see what remains of the former RAF site. The most obvious thing about the site is the hangar like buildings – around 7 or 8 of these are still standing, but only just, with the windows and doors smashed…
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80 years ago, HMS Belfast was first launched, in a career spanning WW2, D-Day, the Cold War and many more historical events. Today the armoured 11,000 tonne floating museum welcomes tourists and visitors alike to explore across all 9 decks, allowing people to explore a warship like never before. From the bomb store to the…
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Over a thousand nuclear observation posts were built after the Second World War, but what actually are they? Royal Observer Corps (ROC) Monitoring Posts were underground monitoring stations built for volunteers to monitor the effects of a nuclear blast. The first prototype was built in Surrey in 1956 and was used for a trial to…
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Out of 88 Avro Vulcan’s built, XL426 was the 44th to be built and currently resides at Southend Aiport, maintained by the Vulcan Restoration Trust. Weighing over 90,000KG, the bomber first entered service in September 1962.
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Cliffe Fort is one of five coastal forts to survive along the River Thames/Meadway, in addition to Coalhouse, Garrison Point, Hoo and Darnet. Shornemead, Tilbury and Grain fort still survive however are inland more. Cliffe Fort was strategically positioned to be on a narrow bend of the Thames and also directly opposite Coalhouse Fort; just…
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