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Hoo Fort
ooh been a while since Iv posted a military site so heres one you all know that I paid a visit last year.
Been covered many times before so heres the history shamelessly stolen from @Wastelandr
Hoo Fort was one of the many Palmerston Forts built across the country following the 1859 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, which decided that hundreds of forts and batteries should be built across the UK's coastline incase of an invasion by France, named after Lord Palmerston the Prime Minister. It's questionable if this was ever worth it as each fort is of considerable stone construction and arguably 'had no practical value' with the invasion risk seeming unlikely.
The scheme must've cost many millions in tax, especially during a time of such social disparity. Hope Fort itself was one of the forts built surrounding Chatham to defend the Royal Dockyard, and Fort Darnet was built similarly to Hoo in the mouth of the Medway. The fort was completed in 1871 for one tier of eleven 9-inch rifled muzzle loading guns facing 360 degrees, although another storey above was also proposed. The lower level was for accommodating the troops.
The Explore
As you know doubt know u cant get to this without one of them boat things, so the offer of a rib boat ride over seemed too good to miss.
I headed down south only to be let down but Id come prepared, so after a night in car I deployed my secret weapon, well not that secret I had a ruddy great river canoe strapped to my roof!
The mile ish trip over was fantastic and like a millpond & Im quite used to canoeing on a calm river, but a few hours later things had got a bit more er choppy!
With no spray deck I was in serious danger of capsizing & just a rucksack full of camera gear this was not a desirable prospect.
If the unthinkable did happen I had no way to empty out & righting my vessel so would of been one of the most embarrassing coats guard rescue episodes ever, but fortunately I battled the swell & survived the cruel mistress to bring you the rest of these pics! The things I do for you folk ;-)
Very kind of someone to leave this here enabling some rooftop pics!
Finally a few more of the many shipwrecks around the island
img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54879459311_7ab5532027_c.jpg[/img]
Finally the most terrifying sign Iv ever seen :rofl
