Medway & Thames Defences
A copy free feature of the other defence Forts of the Medway and Thames including more on Grain Tower Battery off the Isle-of-Grain on the Hoo Peninsular
Grain's 3.7" Gun Emplacement, Knock John and Tongue Naval Towers 3.7" Guns
One of the areas land based Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Emplacements and X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach on the Isle-of-Grain
Queenborough looking westerly
The X-Pilot
Pictured on her mooring off the redundant ramp at Queenborough with Dead Man's Island and Grain Loading Arms beyond, more of X-Pilot further down the page
Grain Tower Battery looking towards Sheerness
Grain Tower Battery from the causeway
Grain Tower Battery base showing Medway Boom Chains
Sheerness from Grain Tower Battery
The following 6 photographs taken on 8th April 2019
Defences within Sheerness Docks
Observation Towers within Sheerness Docks
See the above from sea in Grand Forts Tour 22nd April 2018
Sheerness Dock seaward perimeter wall
Buildings within Sheerness Docks
Basin crane ring once within Sheerness Docks
This crane base can be found on relaimed land at the entrance to Tesco car park
Note: Built by acclaimed Engineering Company Sir William Arrol & Co based in Glasgow they constructed the Tay, Forth and Tower Bridges
Contracted by Harland & Wolff they built at the time the largest Ship Gantry known as the Arrol Gantry for construction of three super liners one being the 'Titanic'
The causeway from Grain Tower Battery
Garrison Point Fort and Sheerness from the roof of Grain Tower Battery
Rushenden looking towards the 'All Tide Landing' left click for full size image
Ashore behind the seawall the Grain Tower Battery Chain Boom Drive Hut
Grain Tower Battery Chain Boom Drive Hut entrance
Tongue Tower with 3.7" Guns (1991)
Tongue Tower with 3.7" Guns (1991)
Tongue Tower with 3.7" Guns (1991)
Knock John Tower with 3.7" Guns (June 1992)
N.B The left hand 3.7" Gun was the last to leave Orkney, also note the enhanced wire fragment pointing skywards a remnant of the Top Radar Teak House demolished in 1966 on the instructions of Roy Bates in an attemp to improve the Radio Essex signal
For more pictures and the 3.7" Guns being pulled by RAF Manston see Tongue Tower
Big Guns on the move ... (Annandale Observer Friday 10th August 2018)
Three of the Naval 3.7" Guns leaving Orkney (Friday 10th August 2018) left click for full size Press Report
Whilst the report doesn't acknowledge the origin these are two Guns from Knock John and one Tongue Towers pulled by RAF Manston in June 1992
The fourth Gun (Tongue) can be seen at Fort Gardens Gravesend, the Guns on Roughs Tower (Sealand) were toppled overboard in a mass clearout by the Americans of Haven Co
The Following photographs (a) - (d) taken at Carrutherstown, Dumfrieshire
3.7" Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun (a) (2018)
3.7" Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun (b) (2018)
3.7" Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun (c) (2018)
3.7" Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun (d) (2018)
Fuel Pier Isle-of-Grain (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach with Daryl and Troy hard at work removing barnacles and weed (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach from beneath the Fuel Pier (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach from beneath the Fuel Pier (17th July 2018)
Skipper Alan with Daryl and Troy beneath X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot Skipper Alan Cockleshell Beach (17th July 2018)
X-Pilot on Cockleshell Beach (17th July 2018)
Like to join us on a cruise and perhaps board the Red Sands Army Forts with our working parties?
Details here of X-Pilot Sailings
Grain 3.7" Gun Emplacement (17th July 2018)
Grain 3.7" Gun Emplacement (17th July 2018)
Ground level of Grain 3.7" Gun Emplacement (17th July 2018)
Inside Grain 3.7" Gun Emplacement (17th July 2018)
Steps to top of Grain 3.7" Gun Emplacement and view back (17th July 2018)
Top of Grain 3.7" Gun Emplacement (17th July 2018)
View towards Sheerness Docks, and Queenborough Harbour
Top of Grain 3.7" Gun Emplacement (17th July 2018)
View towards Grain Tower Battery and Garrison Point Sheerness
Grain 3.7" Gun Mount (17th July 2018)
Grain 3.7" Gun Emplacement surrounded by Marshes (17th July 2018)
In the long grass by Grain 3.7" Gun Emplacement (17th July 2018)
A private land based 3.7" Gun Site (3rd May 2017)
Looking across the marshes to Kingsnorth Power Station on the River Medway
Camouflaged 3.7" Gun Emplacement (3rd May 2017)
Munitions Hut (3rd May 2017)
Munitions Hut Shaft (3rd May 2017)
Munitions Hut Entrance (3rd May 2017)
Side of a double 3.7" Gun Emplacement (3rd May 2017)
Spring Flowers, 3.7" Gun Mount and Ramp to roof of another Gun Emplacement (3rd May 2017)
Roof of a Gun Emplacement (3rd May 2017)
Roof detail of a 3.7" Gun Emplacement (3rd May 2017)
Further up the River Medway ...
Hoo Fort
At the pinch in the river between Kingsnorth Power station, water beyond the Fort is very shallow and can only be navigated in small craft at high tide
Hoo Fort entrance
To access by boat anchor by the abandoned lighters to go ashore
N.B The entrance to the Fort is flooded but may be crossed with caution in Wellington Boots or Waders
Hoo Fort interior
Wildlife is abundant we saw Bats and an Owl flying at dusk
On the opposite bank you'll see Darent Fort
Grateful thanks to Captain Graham Croft, Brian Adams, X-Pilot owner Martin Harman and Skipper Alan Harman for their help in producing this feature
See Grain Tower Battery for a consolidated history of the Thames Estuary Forts see Fort Fax