Archive for Coalhouse Fort Project Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury, Essex.
 



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outkast

east tilbury battery

anyone fancy a visit to the east tilbury battery this saturday for a bit of an explore?
Pete

I'll have a word with my mates, but I should be up for it.
We want to do HMS Ganges, has anyone got any info' on who to contact to get permission for a visit?
outkast

Pete wrote:
I'll have a word with my mates, but I should be up for it.
We want to do HMS Ganges, has anyone got any info' on who to contact to get permission for a visit?


let me know if you are definately up for it as you will need some equipment(ooh errhh misses)  torch, robust boots etc, I have been down there a couple of times before but this time I will be looking for evidence of a rumoured "secret tunnel"  Wink

I was thinking around midday as the weather will have cleared up by then.

hms ganges, whats that?
Pete

Midday is fine with me, I'll wait in the Coalhouse carpark in my red R reg Fiesta. I may have a torch that I can bring with me  Laughing  Laughing  Laughing
HMS Ganges is an old Royal Navy training establishment, now abandoned.
outkast

Pete wrote:
Midday is fine with me, I'll wait in the Coalhouse carpark in my red R reg Fiesta. I may have a torch that I can bring with me  Laughing  Laughing  Laughing
HMS Ganges is an old Royal Navy training establishment, now abandoned.


wear some tough clothing as the place is so overgrown we will need to cut our way in, I will bring some garden shears, I know the easiest routes but I would think we will still have to do a bit of "gardening" LOL, I have a big bright torch so no problem if you not got one, I will see you at midday in the car park then, I will be driving a white transit connect.

Cheers, Dave.
Pete

Yep, no prob'. See you there.
Kasper

Don't fortget your camera's  Wink
Pete

What, I've got to buy a camera too? I was going to bring my watercolour set  Laughing ( I've just got a waterproof camera that I want to try out, before doing the magazine level at Darnet Fort. No doubt it'll come in handy, as it's bound to chuck it down tomorrow.)
Kasper

I would love too attend but i'm picking up my Landy in the morning and then hosting a paranormal group overnight.
I'll listen out for any cries for help when i'm in the north cap then?  Laughing
Pete

Laughing
outkast

Kasper wrote:
I would love too attend but i'm picking up my Landy in the morning and then hosting a paranormal group overnight.
I'll listen out for any cries for help when i'm in the north cap then?  Laughing


if you hear cries of help and a noise like someone trying to dig there way out with their fingernails, you will know we have found the secret tunnel but have also got lost in it  Laughing  Laughing
Pete

No doubt, I've buggered things up (new fangled computer stuff!), but here's some pic's:
http://s320.photobucket.com/album...ast%20Tilbury%20Battery%20pt%201/
Everything stung or had spikes!
Thanks to Littlebit and the rest, (Oi Saracen, I'd love a ride! if not, I'll "Flash" for your convoy), for the welcome.  Laughing
(An old git, who's used to getting people over roundabouts, with multi bikes.)
Kasper

Great pics mate, thanks for posting the link.
Facinating that some of it looks in better shape than the fort.
Pete

Jeez, fair play to Outkast, a feller that had done some prep'!. We were still worried about " Charlie"! Again, thanks to Littlebit, etc. (soft drinks, at the end of a 3 and a half hour, explore)
(Smellies are us, lol)
outkast

Pete wrote:
Jeez, fair play to Outkast, a feller that had done some prep'!. We were still worried about " Charlie"! Again, thanks to Littlebit, etc. (soft drinks, at the end of a 3 and a half hour, explore)
(Smellies are us, lol)


Thanks for coming along Pete, its definately a 2 man job Laughing

its a real shame its being left to decay, its really in good nick in there
Kasper

I agree, it's a lot better preserved than i thought it would be.
Gutted i couldn't make it.

I had a thought last night while in the north cap.
Do you think it is more feasible that if there was a tunnel in the north cap that it went to the church and not the battery?
Just seems too far away for me and the fort did have heavy connections with the church. As we all know the soldiers did building work there.
I think that would make more sense.

Quote:
The stump of a tower, which contains the vestries, was built by the First World War garrison of Coalhouse Fort, No.2 Company, London Electrical Engineers. Originally they had planned to build a complete tower in memory of their fallen comrades but were stopped by higher authorities as the correct procedures had not been followed. There is an inscription tablet in the stump recording the original intentions rather than what actually happened!


Question is though, why would they build a tunnel to the church?
Or from the church to the fort?
outkast

Kasper wrote:
I agree, it's a lot better preserved than i thought it would be.
Gutted i couldn't make it.

I had a thought last night while in the north cap.
Do you think it is more feasible that if there was a tunnel in the north cap that it went to the church and not the battery?
Just seems too far away for me and the fort did have heavy connections with the church. As we all know the soldiers did building work there.
I think that would make more sense.

Quote:
The stump of a tower, which contains the vestries, was built by the First World War garrison of Coalhouse Fort, No.2 Company, London Electrical Engineers. Originally they had planned to build a complete tower in memory of their fallen comrades but were stopped by higher authorities as the correct procedures had not been followed. There is an inscription tablet in the stump recording the original intentions rather than what actually happened!


Question is though, why would they build a tunnel to the church?
Or from the church to the fort?


Kasper, me and Pete were discussing this in the pub, it does not make sense that they would biuld a tunnel to either the church or battery, the onlt time a tunnel would be usefull is to move troops or ammo/equipment in the event of an landbased attack, neither the church or the battery would have survived long under attack where as the fort could be defended a lot easier, a tunnel from outside could have actually provided a "weak spot" in the forts defenses.

I think myself and Pete may return the the battery with some others in the near future, if thats the case we shall let you know when.
col

Hiya, I'm one of Pete's mates from another forum.  Unfortunately, I was unable to make this trip, but I'm definately up for going in the near future...
outkast

col wrote:
Hiya, I'm one of Pete's mates from another forum.  Unfortunately, I was unable to make this trip, but I'm definately up for going in the near future...


well maybe some kind person from the fort would let us have a little nose around in there, that way we could make a day of it and do the tilbury triangle, east tilbury battery, bowater farm and the fort  Very Happy
Pete

Fair comment, a good nose around wouldn't go amiss!
Kasper

outkast wrote:
Kasper wrote:
I agree, it's a lot better preserved than i thought it would be.
Gutted i couldn't make it.

I had a thought last night while in the north cap.
Do you think it is more feasible that if there was a tunnel in the north cap that it went to the church and not the battery?
Just seems too far away for me and the fort did have heavy connections with the church. As we all know the soldiers did building work there.
I think that would make more sense.

Quote:
The stump of a tower, which contains the vestries, was built by the First World War garrison of Coalhouse Fort, No.2 Company, London Electrical Engineers. Originally they had planned to build a complete tower in memory of their fallen comrades but were stopped by higher authorities as the correct procedures had not been followed. There is an inscription tablet in the stump recording the original intentions rather than what actually happened!


Question is though, why would they build a tunnel to the church?
Or from the church to the fort?


Kasper, me and Pete were discussing this in the pub, it does not make sense that they would biuld a tunnel to either the church or battery, the onlt time a tunnel would be usefull is to move troops or ammo/equipment in the event of an landbased attack, neither the church or the battery would have survived long under attack where as the fort could be defended a lot easier, a tunnel from outside could have actually provided a "weak spot" in the forts defenses.

I think myself and Pete may return the the battery with some others in the near future, if thats the case we shall let you know when.


Don't forget the Wren's stayed in the Rectory opposite too.
May have been a factor, but then your looking at WWII where as the work carried out at the church was long before that.

Where abouts is the Battery on the attached link?

[url]http://www.multimap.com/maps/?hloc=GB|RM18 8PB#map=51.46845,0.42846|16|32&loc=GB:51.46829:0.4267:16|RM18 8PB|RM18 8PB[/url]

Sorry you need to C&P it into your address bar.
outkast

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=51...72&z=15.1&r=0&src=msa
Kasper

Quite a distance then.
outkast

Kasper wrote:
Quite a distance then.


yes, I think if there is/was a tunnel the only place you may find any evidence of it is at the fort.
Pete

nah, not having that! After 3 and a half hours, Just a good battery! no tunnels, etc!  Laughing
Pete

poxy photobucket, try this:
http://s320.photobucket.com/album.../outdug/East%20Tilbury%20Battery/
Kasper

Could see them in the first link mate. Worked my end.
Great pics.
Pete

damn it, tech' and beer don't mix  Laughing  Laughing  Laughing
Pete

When it finally stops raining, I'll put a "convoy escort" pic' in there for Saracen!
(How to make an old Fiesta, flash like an Xmas tree,  Laughing )
Kasper

I've heard a rumour that the tunnel goes from the North cap to the churchyard somewhere.
outkast

Kasper wrote:
I've heard a rumour that the tunnel goes from the North cap to the churchyard somewhere.


well when it comes to nosing around the north cap, your the man, better take a look and see what you can find Very Happy

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Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury, is run by volunteers and is always looking for new members to come along and help out. If you have a manual skill ie carpentry, painting or electrical etc or if you are just interested in historic buildings then drop us a line. Membership is £10 per year and will allow free entry to all open days. Wednesdays are work party day and you would be welcome to come along and help behind the scenes to help preserve Coalhouse Fort.