HMS Ganges is situated on the Shotley Peninsula in Suffolk. It used to be a training camp for the Navy until 1976, and in later years it was a police training school. It closed in 1998 or something.
At the start of 2006 the site was subject to a controversial planning war – some developers want to build a ton of homes etc on the site, but locals don’t want that. In July 2006 the Secretary of State intervened and rejected all plans!
Mast
Anyone who visits Shotley can’t fail to notice a huge mast that dominates the skyline. I can’t find out exactly how high it is – various websites say it’s between 130 and 150ft high. That is damn high. And kids had to climb it when they were training in the navy. If that doesn’t sound too bad, the wind on the ground was ferocious when I visited. I can’t imagine what it would be like at the top of it.
Signal school
This building was a Signal School apparently, which was created to teach flag signalling and telecommunications. I don’t know too much about it, but it did have fantastic bricks inside.
In one room 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…
Swimming pool
This’ll be where people swam.
Main block
Martello Towers
There are two of these towers on site, both of which have been converted to water towers. One has had an additional observation post built onto it which gives splendid views accross the estuary to Harwich and Felixstowe. The same tower also has a mast on it, and a broken one is stored underneath it.
Other buildings
Some of the other buildings on site…
Fort/Battery
An old battery remains on the grounds of HMS Ganges. It was built in 1865 to protect the port of Felixstowe, and to supplement the forts at Felixstowe and Harwich.
Bomb Shelters
Scattered around the site are various bomb shelters.
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What a site!. Just wandered onto it. I joined the Annexe Sept.6th 1949. Moved over to Collingwood 43 mess. Mast Class was compulsory in those days, it was November – very cold, ice covered rigging, had to go over the lubbers hole regardless, up and then back down. Fingers under cold water taps to try and get some life into them. Then straight to
school for English, couldn’t hold a pen for a while! Certainly made men of many of us, and were ready for sea on leaving.Shame on what they have done to the place. Have not been able to go back to see it for real. Appreciate all the work done on the web for old ex Ganges Boys. Bravo!!!!.
Is there anyone out there who was in Rodney 15 Mess.It was the winter of 1965 if so leave your thoughts.
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.
I joined Ganges in Feb 1976 and went into Resolution division in a mess near the bottom of the long covered way. Did six weeks there before going to Mercury. As we left the last course joined. Done my 22 and eventually went to Raleigh as a civvy instructor Submarine school. What a difference from Ganges! There was a photo album in Raleigh Heritage centre with lots of pics and articles about Ganges but it was very tatty and stuff missing. I was very sad to see the state it was in. It needs looking after. Anyway, i have some pics of my own which i intend to get to the museum. Best wishes to all my classmates
reso 081 class. Never saw any of them again!
this is thomas doherty i was at h m s ganges in keppel mess june 1969 want to contact ron dooler and ian shepard and ian corey and arthur farmolow they served with me in keppel mess july 1969 please contact my step son daviddoylewindows2008@yahoo.com
unfortunately the bottom spars of the mast have broken with age. Due to access denial for repairs by the site owner the deterioration will continue unless the mast,fort and buried roman forts receive grade 1 listing. Please forward concerns to Babergh District Council as these Structures are part of the areas heritage and must not be lost to time or apathy.
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
Iwould also like to mention that ROBERT ROLFE was in DIVISION TYREET (1) ithink i spelt it right
MR G H POOLE
I was there when it was the police training scool in 92.
Some great memories. That parade ground was the scene of a few sore feet. Shame it has been allowed to get into such a state.
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.
Kneeling down on the hard wooden floor of the mess with a shoe brush in hand in rows. Dabbing orange polish on the deck first row brushed it in 2nd and third row buffed it up until you could see your face in it.Made my knees swell.Cleaning the mess windows with toilet paper. Putting red admiral on the wash room tiles. Going to hang your dhobeying on the racks in the laundyr room Running round the parade ground on DO’s routine doing the Shotley shuffle Pick your feet up LAD!!! Oh sweet memories
Oh yes and 3X tooth paste
Visited Ganges 19/10/2008 in it’s delapidated state. The mast yard arm was hanging off, not the same place I joined 14/10/47.such a shame. It should be a listed building after all the top Navy men it turned out.
I learned to type in the signal school in 1961. They taught us to type to music and if you screwed up and got out of time, the Yeoman in charge (Bogey Knight) used to drop the Allied Naval Signal Book on your head. For all those who know, the ANSB was timber bound with brass screws and weighed a ton. If he was feeling more lenient, he would just bash you with a brass telescope. We all got to 30 wpm quick sharp. We never got bored or depressed in those days.
I suppose its a sign of the times but it is sad to see Ganges in this state. I joined in the summer of 1970 in 19 recruitment and had a great year in Blake division before moving to HMS Collingwood.