HMS Ganges revisited
Photos - 50.
Where - Ipswich, Suffolk.
Visited - October 2006.
Posted - 17 October 2006.
Categories -
urbex, navy, underground.
Since my visit in February, it has been decided not to turn the site into houses. But there are now rumours that the whole place will be demolished in November. With this in mind, a return trip was planned (with Abo and Speed).
Our main aim was to look the fort and try and get into the swimming pool. Annoyingly we didn't manage to do either. That said, we still had a fantastic little explore of the place.
Martello / Signal Tower
I never get bored of this. Last time I had a look underneath and in one of the observation rooms. Done that again..
.. and also managed to get into the upper observation room (via a half rotten/half missing staircase).
There was also another little round room. It had a really cool retro Coke can in!
Signal School
This was still the only accessible building. It does have beautiful corridors so I shalln't grumble.
Something I didn't notice last time were some educational posters on one wall. They were in quite a bad state, but some parts were still readable. Time to learn some nautical signals...
The swimming pool
Abo somehow managed to take this photo of the swimming pool. Fantastic. It would've been cool to get into, but there was no way 
Tunnels
A few days before our trip we learnt of some secret tunnels. They are seriously difficult to find. We were given directions to two of them, but could only find one!
We don't know exactly what the purpose of the tunnels are. We found some beds and ancient portable toilets in them - it's possible that they are some sort of air-raid shelters, or something of that ilk.
If anyone can tell me what they were for that would be great - thanks! 
The Mast
Can't have a Ganges trip without the obligatory mast shot...
Your Comments
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Posted 28 November 2006, 23:10 From Steve Mullins
Last time I saw that pool was 1966, baby stoker , Grenville.
Posted 29 November 2006, 09:50 From Doug
Cor that bloody swimming pool,I was a backward swimmer there,those barbaric PTI's would push you off the sides with a pole.
Posted 1 December 2006, 02:30 From Alex
Love the pics. If you check out the Ganges assoc. web sight, you'll find a site map of Ganges that will tell you what the buildings you have been exploring really are.
Posted 13 December 2006, 22:20 From Nobby
Joined Ganges in 1956 never been so fit in my life. Remember the pool well as a backward swimmer and after boxing training. Signal School pics especially the Flag definitions and meanings.
Posted 16 December 2006, 16:40 From chats harris
its a sad sad sight the state of it,iwas always led to believe that it had a presivation order on it,or are the present owners just going to let it rot,and then it would have to come down for safety reasons,i just wish that it could be moved to some where like Chatham historic dockyard,what a shame
Posted 16 December 2006, 19:30 From Lofty
I joined Ganges in July 1951 as a 15 year old boy (Signalman ) known as buntingtossers in the navy. Knew the signal school well. Served my first 18 .. months there, then went to sea on a 'Battle' class destroyer as a boy Signalman aged 16 1/2.Did my bit for King/Queen and country.
Posted 17 December 2006, 12:40 From DAB @ derelicte
This isn't actually the mast, rather a small one on the signal tower.
But it is a shame that there are no real plans to saving the main mast..
Posted 26 January 2007, 22:10 From salem
my dad trained for the navy here when he was 15
Posted 12 April 2007, 11:40 From Paul Kenning
Took my Personal Survival and Lifesaving in the pool 1967, I went back to take a look last year, i must admit i shed a tear, Longh Covered way has now gone and Kepple 2 mess. I will always have fond memories of the good times and Oppo's.
Posted 18 May 2007, 22:10 From Hans Schreuder
Ganges page is stunning and the pics fantastic, thanks. Great exploration skills!
Posted 19 May 2007, 13:20 From Roland Elworthy
Firstly, what an absolutely excellent, if rather sad website. Thank-you for posting such interesting photos'.
I explored HMS Ganges many times in the late '80s/early '90s when it was in the hands of the police I think. I remember two really beautiful and unusual Officer's accommodation blocks being demolished and thinking how sad it was. The mast is supposedly grade 2* listed and so hopefully will be saved.
Nearby is Shotley Point Marina which used to be the athletics track for HMS Ganges.
Posted 28 May 2007, 15:10 From Iain
The tunnels are old air raid shelters mate. Had a pint with an ex-employee of Ganges a while ago. He told us they were thne shelters. I you check out the photos on the Ganges site they show them before they became overgrown.
Posted 11 June 2007, 23:10 From dougie ramsay
remember them well having to learn them all
ex yeoman
Posted 11 June 2007, 23:10 From dougie ramsay
remember trying to swim with me overhalls on and keeping one eye on the sailor with the lifesaving pole ready to grab it
Posted 11 June 2007, 23:10 From dougie ramsay
excellent photos sad to see the old signal school photos many a happy memory in that building learning to type blindfolded and to the sound of the millitary band music
Posted 20 September 2007, 13:30 From peter
Last time i saw this pool was in 1999 when i was doing my police training there before joining the Norfolk police...happy memories ...NOT
Posted 22 October 2007, 01:20 From dave ross
a site of historical intrest left to die by a shit goverment that would rather turn everythink into giant housing estates (john prescot biggest w***er ever to walk gods green earth) rant over
Posted 22 October 2007, 14:50 From Les Smith
I was on the end of the port-side Lower Yard-arm way back in `66 for Parents day.It`s a pity its not there any more, it should be Listed as a National Monument.
Posted 13 November 2007, 13:50 From gerry murray
I remember seeing "Tich Wakefield" win the RN Diving Title in 1967
Posted 31 December 2007, 17:20 From Philip Askew
joined 3/10/02, I remember walking through a shelter like this full of CS gas for routine testing of our gas masks !!
Posted 31 December 2007, 17:20 From Philip Askew
sorry, that was joined 3/10/72, 38 recruitment blake 4 mess (from Annex Resolution mess.
Posted 6 January 2008, 17:40 From Bill Coley
I can't believe that is where I learned my trade. The signal school was one of the better buildings in those days, believe it or not. I can't remember bars on the windows though - having said that - I can't remember all that much about Ganges anyway, I think my mind has tried to blot out all memories of that goddamn awful place.
Posted 22 January 2008, 15:30 From Bob Hind
There were more trench-like air raid shelters alongside the pool and P.O.s mess and they were all filled in in July/August 1966. I was at Ganges from June 1966 to April 1967.
Posted 28 January 2008, 21:10 From Dennis Linehan
Joined September 1965 I was in Rodney 15 Mess Long Covered Way.Great pics great times had at Ganges,went to join HMS Eagle,London and Juno spent time at HMS Camb in Plymouth and Whale Isleland Portsmouth also Dryad.All good memories.
Posted 7 February 2008, 14:50 From Tony Thipthorpe
Oliver
Great - scenes I've not seen for 50+ years!
Should we provide a link to the other site?
Tony
Posted 6 March 2008, 18:50 From jeff heard
Got my bronze life saving medal here in 1961.So sad to see it in this state. Jeff Heard.
Posted 21 April 2008, 23:40 From Phil Glover
Well done for publishing the current state of this establishment, should have been preserved.
Posted 7 June 2008, 19:50 From nigel bishenden
Just found the site. Joined 1968 Drake 15. The tunnels you refer to I am sure joined the hospital wards.
Posted 16 August 2008, 01:20 From David in New Hampshire
Great stuff. I grew up in Harwich and used to go with the Sea Scouts every Saturday to swim in the pool in Gangees and also use the Gym.
Gangees should have been a great resource for the area instead of being allowed to rot away.
I also noticed on the Harwich Standard website that the radar tower in Beacon Hill Fort is being opened to the public. I'll have to check that out when next in the area.
Posted 3 October 2008, 09:40 From Mr G H Poole
is there any one out there that can tell me if they new a ROBERT ROLFE he was a good friend of mine when we were at BISLEY BOYS SCHOOL TOGETHER he left the school i think in 1947 to go to HMS GANGES he was a friend of DOUGLAS THOMPSON he also went to
HMS GANGES i have made contact with him, any help finding ROBERT ROLFE would be apprectated. thank
MR G H POOLE
Posted 11 October 2008, 10:20 From john north
we left ganges in may 1976.must of been one of the last classes to pass out before it shut its gates for the last time.wonderful.
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