Issue: 2 Dated: 20th August 2023
The Port of London Authority (PLA) want to remove both both U6 & U7 the remaining two Maunsell Thames Army Forts & to this end made a feasibility study at U7 in summer 2003
Their concern is that the rusting super structure is a threat to peoples safety, based on the total collapse of Tongue Sands in 1996
The dismantling cost would be astronomical & would take 2 or more years to complete at a cost of £9 million
Before anyone had shown interest in the structure Red Sands Fort (1964)
Red Sands shortly after being taken over by Radio Invicta (1965)
The Radio Invicta 306 metre frequency painted on the roof of the Searchlight Tower (1965)
The Fort was 4 miles away from Radio City's Shivering Sands & had a similar "Heath Robinson" ariel system
The loss of Radio Invicta founder Tom Pepper saw the station become K.I.N.G announcing itself as coming from the Nore which had been dismantled in 1959!
Red Sands Fort painted by Ian Scoones (1967)
By now the fort had become home to the highly successful sweet music station Radio 390
Radio 390's own advertising picture (1967)
Radio 390 tender approaches Red Sands Fort for a crew change Roger Scott centre (1967)
Red Sands Army Fort about to be boarded by Seatribe (1968)
Roger & Robin (1968)
Press Cuttings (1968)
One of the many ideas banded around
On the Fort the Seatribe group had first shown interest in the Red Sands Fort after Radio 390 left in 1967; Pictured Charlie, Robin, Steven Warwick, Jim & Colin with Patacake Stevie's wife foreground (1969)
Jim & Mike Bass make an illicit link to shore (1969)
See more of Mike in the Mike Bass Tribute
Project Seatribe believe that it's highly unlikely that the Army forts would collapse without warning
Their proposal is to use any savings from the dismantling on preserving Red Sands Maunsell Army Fort
An animated three dimensional computer model of a complete set of Army Forts is being built to enable interested parties to take a virtual tour of the fort
Original Catwalk now long gone shown in (1968 & 1969)
The first priority would be to link the forts with temporary "Jungle Walks" like the one constructed on Shivering Sands
See Sutch City 2 & Sutch City 3 for pictures
Members of the Seatribe come ashore at the Sheerness slipway (1969)
Seatribe was tendered for the duration of the original project for 12 months the contract being with Nick Murray of N E Murray Tugs (Nore Maritime) Marine Contractors based at Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent
For more on Murray Tugs see Big L 1997
Bofors Gun Tower (15th August 1977)
Seatribe left their mark as The Red Sands Development Corporation still visible on the tower
For pictures on top & inside this Bofors see navigate from Greta 1 & Red Sands 2003
Technical drawings have been prepared from the originals & Project Red of U6 Seatribe Project await response to requests for the inspection dive & funding
It's predicted that the PLA & a Taylor Woodrow Construction representative could be present to conduct an underwater survey weather permitting during low tides in July/August 2004
If this passes a meeting is proposed with the Royal Engineers to discuss project preparation
They are threatening to knock down the forts? That will be
so sad! Last year they demolished a Concrete Barge on Canvey that was possibly
part of the Mulberry Harbour. I was so upset I started a website about it
Concrete Barge
I would love to take a peek on the forts - perhaps if you plan a trip this
summer on the Barge and aim on paying another visit on the forts you could
tell me when? I would love to come a few of us love the Forts.
Dave Bullock
Just found the pictures of Red Sands in 68/69 seeing Jim, Steve, Patacake, Robin etc certainly brought back some memories. I was part of the seatribe adventure and lived on the towers for many months in 1969. Part of the time I was with Malcolm Addison and some of the time I was alone.
The memory of waking alone on Red Sands early on a summers
morning still ranks as one of life's most beautiful moments . The memory of
wild stormy nights on those Towers is almost beyond comparison.
Malcolm and I wrote a log when we we out there and Steve used to have it,
I don't know where it is now .I may have some pictures of the time and certainly
have some poetry written while I was out there.
Thanks for the memory
yours Hugh Ratzer - Wales
This feature continues in Seatribe - Part 2
For details on all the Thames Estuary Forts see Fort Fax