Stambridge was once home to a tide mill on the waterfront dating back many centuries. The original building burnt down in April 1965 although the site continued operation as a mill until 2014. Another fire saw the finale of the site’s operation, although several partially-demolished modern buildings survive.
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In the marshy area adjacent to North Fambridge marina lies a ferro-concrete barge partially submerged in a field. Once stranded in the marshland, this barge exists as a peculiar hulk misplaced from its maritime origins and today exists buried into the earth following the reclamation of the area into farmland. This example is in good…
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Hidden away just off of the A12, you wouldn’t have a clue that this was here unless someone told you! Just down the bank from a lay-by is this infantry firing position. During the Second World War, this area would have formed part of the defences of Chelmsford, in addition to the anti-tank blocks and…
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Berners Roding is a tiny village in the mid-Essex countryside. In fact, it is barely a village at all. Compared to a 1777 map, the village appears to have hardly changed, perhaps even shrunk. Consisting of a few farm buildings and a row of houses, it may not even be established enough to be classed…
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During the early Second World War, Germany bombed British towns, cities, and industries using aircraft. This initially took place in daylight leading up to the Battle of Britain, but when this tactic failed, Hitler decided nighttime bombing would give an advantage. In the Blitz of 1940 and 1941, the daytime was ordinary, but every night…
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The Dragon’s Teeth along the River Wey in Guildford are just one of many examples of surviving Second World War tank defences in the town. Dozens of these small pyramids stretch through the woodland from the river up the edge of the woods. Known as ‘Dragon’s Teeth’ these concrete defences were designed to slow down…
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In preparation for Operation Overlord, the codename for the Battle of Normandy, Canadian troops build a replica section of the Atlantic Wall. In 1940 Germany had seized large areas of France, however were concerned about being attacked from the Americans, before they had a chance to invade Britain. Hitler gave the order for German soldiers…
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When Britain came under aerial attack in the Second World War, thousands of Heavy Anti-Aircraft batteries and associated army camps were built across the country. These are a fairly uniform and easy-to-recognise ruin one can find in anywhere from open farmland to housing estates. We have looked at other nearby batteries, such as those in…
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Before the Second World War, an experiment was carried out to test the effectiveness of searchlights, or floodlights, of a special mirror variety possibly used to concentrate more light. These prototypes were designed to be able to spot and dazzle German aircraft flying across British land, by lighting up the night’s sky. Each installation would…
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Gravesend West Street Pier is the only remnant surviving of Gravesend West Railway Station. This station served as the terminus of the Gravesend West Line, with the platform and station situated on the raised structure that continued out onto the pier in the River Thames. The first station on the line after Gravesend West was…
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