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Shornmead Fort
Shornemead Fort is a artillery fort that was built in the 1860s to guard the entrance to the Thames from seaborne attack.
Constructed during a period of tension with France, it stands on the south bank of the river at a point where the Thames curves sharply north and west, giving the fort long views up and downriver in both directions.
It was the third fort constructed on the site since the 18th century, but its location on marshy ground led to major problems with subsidence.
Shornemead Fort was in use from its completion in 1870 to its abandonment in the 1950s
The fort was equipped for a time with a variety of large-calibre artillery guns which were intended to support two other nearby Thamesside forts.
However, the extent of the subsidence meant that it became unsafe for the guns to be fired and the fort was disarmed by the early 20th century.
Much of it was demolished by the Army Demolition School of the Royal Engineers in the 1960s. The barracks and administrative buildings have been completely destroyed and only the front of the casemates survives along with the magazines underneath.
I was sent down here for 3 nights right when most other people was tucked up at home to fits some steel on a bridge that was deemed "essential work", the fact that I went back 14 months later to finish the job that absolutely nothing had happened to in between can be overlooked.
I wasnt intending to "explore" this & was just on my way to the rspb res for my daily exercise when I stumbled upon this. Tbh its more of a tourist attraction but thought I would share.
Thanks For looking
Shornemead Fort is a artillery fort that was built in the 1860s to guard the entrance to the Thames from seaborne attack.
Constructed during a period of tension with France, it stands on the south bank of the river at a point where the Thames curves sharply north and west, giving the fort long views up and downriver in both directions.
It was the third fort constructed on the site since the 18th century, but its location on marshy ground led to major problems with subsidence.
Shornemead Fort was in use from its completion in 1870 to its abandonment in the 1950s
The fort was equipped for a time with a variety of large-calibre artillery guns which were intended to support two other nearby Thamesside forts.
However, the extent of the subsidence meant that it became unsafe for the guns to be fired and the fort was disarmed by the early 20th century.
Much of it was demolished by the Army Demolition School of the Royal Engineers in the 1960s. The barracks and administrative buildings have been completely destroyed and only the front of the casemates survives along with the magazines underneath.
I was sent down here for 3 nights right when most other people was tucked up at home to fits some steel on a bridge that was deemed "essential work", the fact that I went back 14 months later to finish the job that absolutely nothing had happened to in between can be overlooked.
I wasnt intending to "explore" this & was just on my way to the rspb res for my daily exercise when I stumbled upon this. Tbh its more of a tourist attraction but thought I would share.
Thanks For looking
