Beacon Hill Fort

Photos - 43.
Where - Harwich, Essex.
Visited - 24 June 2006.
Posted - 12 August 2006.
Categories - fort, underground.

Beacon Hill Fort is one of three defences on the estruary of the River Orwell. One is at Felixstowe, and the other at Shotley.

Harwich has had a long naval history, with something at Beacon Hill since at least Henry VIII's time. Much of the fort was built in the 1890's, and used a novel idea of camoflaging it with the landscape. It was extended during WWII. It finally closed in 1956, but military presence continued until the 1970's. Since then it has deteriorated and suffered at the hands of local vandals.

That's a very very brief history of the place - SubBrit has an excellent piece about it.

Observation Towers

There are two observation towers here. As you can see from the panorama, they have a wonderful view of the estruary and sea.

Panorama beacon

One the right of the picture you can see the other observation tower, and one of the gun emplacements to the left.

The other is tower slightly smaller and is built onto one of the gun emplacements ("Cornwallis Battery")

Batterys

There are four huge emplacements for guns here. One has a curious corrugated-concrete effect going on.

Other buildings

A few other buildings were explored, including a small underground shell store. This even had a winch to the battery above. After the visit I learnt that there is an even larger underground network, access to which was seriously hidden by trees and nettles..

Your Comments

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  1. Posted 12 August 2006, 21:50 From DAB @ derelicte

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    I hate graffiti and this is no exception. That said, I can't help but be slighly amused by the mis-spelt "DONT PIANT" one...

  2. Posted 18 September 2006, 13:20 From Andy Ingate

    I've heard rumours that this is about to be restored. Don't know how true they are. Visited my self earlier this year. What a mess. Kids were there lighting fires everywhere when I was there.

  3. Posted 27 March 2007, 15:20 From Em

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    i was there when most of this was done! how awful

  4. Posted 6 May 2007, 14:50 From David.J.Lynn

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    i played all over beacon hill when i was younger. I apprecate the tme and trouble you have taken to bring it back

  5. Posted 23 August 2007, 11:30 From The green tiger

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    I know the place well used to walk through it twice a day.

  6. Posted 17 March 2008, 23:00 From Barry passey

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    Its good to see that these historical places are getting documented in photos. I remember coming here with my parents in 85 i think. I now blame my dad for my enthusiasm in derelict buildings great site, keep logging and blogging.

  7. Posted 19 April 2008, 18:30 From Diana

    I used to play here in the 70`s, there was no graffiti then, or not as much as that anyway. We used to call it the War Department or WD and it was a well known place for all the local truants from school, myself included. My brother ran away from home once and managed to hide out for a week his pals bringing him food.

  8. Posted 17 May 2008, 14:30 From essexmole

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    i love this place i visit it all the time but its been ruined by mindless arseholes prob from other forums and the idiots of essex

  9. Posted 17 August 2008, 18:30 From connor

    yea but listen this place is haunted how do i know i have a vid cam and i filmed some of this place in the tunnels and you can see a figure of a soliders head aka (ghost) i will have this vid on you tube soon

    ( youtube name warpunisher) keep looking

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