Sealand on Roughs
Issue: 1 Dated: 7th January 2010
Welcome back the Worlds smallest island known as "The Principality of Sealand" for the second part of a preview of pictures taken whilst I was on the fort throughout January 2003
Above the Roughs East Cardinal Buoy being serviced on the Trinity House Pier in Harwich in 1999
Chart showing location of Roughs Tower the home of Sealand
First of the Maunsell sea forts Roughs is one of two surviving Navy forts the other is Knock John
The Navy forts were abandoned by the MoD in the late 1940's & by 1958 all the Thames Estuary forts had been left
Knock John became home to Radio Essex in 1965 until outlawed by the British Government
All the equipment was transferred to Roughs during Christmas 1966 but rather than a Radio base Sealand became an Independent Principality
View towards the South West the wooden generator house above
North Deep leg with gantry & crane jib the opposite end over the South Deep leg
Although incomplete Roughs remains to be continually occupied & is the only preserved example of a WW2 sea fort
The crane hook hangs in readiness to haul the fort tender the RiB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) Sealand 1 up onto the platform
Jez lends a helping hand - Bless
Tendering complete the RiB is lowered back into the sea
Sealand 1 roars away from the fort to return to base
One of the two Gardner 180 generator sets
There are four generators on board, three in the generator house on the top, & the last remaining original WW2 Gardner LW 30 KVA below in level 1 (A) of the North Deep leg
Hear a Gardner 180 change-over to "Polly" Perkins during the fort tour in the VCD details above & at the end of this feature
Dull days view North along the platform from the crane jib under the gantry towards the galley & lounge windows
West Cardinal Buoy a few metres off
Galley/dining room view West not an ideal downpour
High wind blows any collectable water right over the top of the fort a gentle soft drizzle much preferred
Looking out of berth 4.2 of North Deep level 4 (D)
The second rung down of the ladder marks mean high water
Low water is around mid-floor of level 5 (E) below
Naval fort ladder arrangement between floors/biscuits this one from North Deep level 4 (D) looking down to level 5 (E) the high-low water point
Saltwater control valves at North Deep level 6 (F) the former magazine room
These were for flooding the magazine separated behind a steel bulkhead & what would have been Flash Doors
Meanwhile up on deck ever green Mike disposes of old waste engine oil
South Deep level 1 (H) fort telephone exchange & power distribution boards
Same level the UPS (uninterrupted power supply) system alongside what was the forts third Gardner LW generator bed, below the bricked up window
It can get rough, this North Easterly knocked us about for some hours
Unlike the Army forts where wave action is less noticeable, the waves tend to run up between the Navy forts massive legs, until they hit the underside of the platform to dissipate producing a shock wave that reverberates through the whole fort
Harwich lifeboat passes on its way to a shout
A cold winters afternoon & the beginnings of snow across the water at Dover Court
A fair sprinkling onboard too here on the South end
Top of the fort showing the Heli-Pad
Prince Michael arrives at the island by the alternative mode of transport
HM Customs vessel on patrol
Michael works at his laptop in the galley
Winters morning view East from the tender Sealand 1
On the way to Shotley passing the LV 18 moored at Harwich
See more of the former trinity House Light Vessel in
Sealand on Fire Friday 23rd June 2006
This is the second part of a two part feature on Sealand see Sealand One for part one
Note both features include just a small selection of the pictures available
For an exclusive VCD to play on your DVD player with over 150 photographs & soundtrack tour of the whole of Roughs Fort
Additional material provided by Michael Barrington, article approved by Prince Michael of Sealand
About 4 hours ago, I discovered you website, & have been
sitting here ever since looking through the Sealand pages, & listening
to the audio clips &there is still masses more I haven't got to yet. The
Sealand pics were very interesting, as I have passed it many times on the
ferry from Denmark to Harwich. So many of the passengers on the ferry wonder
what the structure is, and think it must be some sort of strange oil rig,
I have enjoyed seeing some of the expressions on their faces when I have told
them its history. John J - Denmark
Just a long overdue thank you for sending my order for the Sealand VCD. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed it. I wait to see what your next production will be maybe a compilation disc of all your wonderful offshore photos would be very nice. Hope all is well with you. Thanks again Phil Grainger
Thanks for the superb photos on your site about Sealand, what a great place for an offshore broadcaster to visit! The pictures gave a superb insight of this ex navy fort which according to the photos is still going strong. Yours Paul
I wanted to let you know that the Sealand VCD and Radio City posters arrived safe and sound, I enjoyed the VCD tour very much. I had no idea everything would be in such good condition 60+ years on. Alan
21/05/09 - Looking forward to see the Sealand DVD I just ordered, I've watched the Sealand story with great interest for many years. Cheers - Dan Warne
For the history of the fort & the background to Sealand click here or the logo above
Additional material provided by Michael Barrington, article approved by Prince Michael of Sealand