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Shivering Sands Army Fort: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 51°29.95′N 1°4.48′E / 51.49917°N 1.07467°E / 51.49917; 1.07467
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{{Short description|Sea fort in the Thames Estuary, UK}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Shivering Sands|Door County, Wisconsin#Attractions}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Shivering Sands|Door County, Wisconsin#Attractions}}
{{Infobox Military Structure
{{Infobox Military Structure
|name=Shivering Sands Army Ford
|name=Shivering Sands Army Fort
|ensign=
|ensign=
|location=[[Thames estuary]]
|location=[[Thames estuary]]
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|image=Maunsell Army Fort.jpg
|image=Maunsell Army Fort.jpg
|image_size=
|image_size=
|caption=Shivering Sands Army Fort]
|caption=Shivering Sands Army Fort in 2006
|type=Offshore, anti-aircraft fortress
|type=Offshore, anti-aircraft fortress
|coordinates={{coord |51|29.95|N|1|4.48|E|region:GB|display=title,inline}}|built=1943
|coordinates={{coord |51|29.95|N|1|4.48|E|region:GB|display=title,inline}}|built=1943
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|garrison=
|garrison=
|ownership =
|ownership =
|battles=[[World War II]]
|battles=*[[World War II]]
*[[Cold War]]
}}
}}
'''Shivering Sands Army Fort''' [U7] was a [[Maunsell Forts#Maunsell army forts|Maunsell army fort]] built near the [[Thames estuary]] for [[anti-aircraft defence]]. It is made up of several once interconnected towers north of [[Herne Bay, Kent|Herne Bay]] and is 14.8 km (9.2 miles) from the nearest land. They can be viewed from [[Shoeburyness]] East Beach on clear days. The Shivering Sands fort was the last of the [[Thames estuary]] forts to be constructed, and was grounded between 18 September and 13 December 1943.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Turner |first1=Frank R. |title=The Maunsell Sea Forts |date=1995 |isbn=0-9524303-1-2 |page=93}}</ref>
'''Shivering Sands Army Fort''' [U7] was a [[Maunsell army fort]] built near the [[Thames estuary]] for [[anti-aircraft defence]]. It is made up of several once-interconnected towers north of [[Herne Bay]] and is 14.8 km (9.2 miles) from the nearest land. They can be viewed from [[Shoeburyness]] East Beach on clear days. The Shivering Sands fort was the last of the [[Thames estuary]] forts to be constructed, and was grounded between 18 September and 13 December 1943.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Turner |first1=Frank R. |title=The Maunsell Sea Forts |date=1995 |isbn=0-9524303-1-2 |page=93}}</ref>

== History ==
== History ==
The towers were built on land and floated out in 1943. Later in the war, the equipment was replaced, and removed soon after. The forts were abandoned in 1958. In the 1960s, some [[weather]] equipment was installed in the [[searchlight]] tower. On 7 June 1963, a boat called the ''Ribersborg'' collided with one of the towers, which fell into the sea without harming anyone or sinking the boat.
The towers were built on land and floated out in 1943. Later in the war, the equipment was replaced, and removed soon after. The forts were abandoned in 1958. In the 1960s, some [[weather]] equipment was installed in the [[searchlight]] tower. On 7 June 1963, a boat called the ''Ribersborg'' collided with one of the towers, which fell into the sea without harming anyone or sinking the boat.


In 1964 [[Screaming Lord Sutch]] set up [[Radio Sutch]] (a [[Pirate radio|pirate radio station]]) on one of the old towers. However, he soon became bored and handed the project to his friend and unpaid manager [[Reginald Calvert]], who then expanded into all five towers that were still connected and called it [[Radio City (pirate radio station)|Radio City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/all-hail-sealand/|title=All Hail Sealand|date=20 March 2012|publisher=The New York Times|author=Frank Jacobs}}</ref> After Calvert was killed by [[Oliver Smedley]], his wife took over for a short time before the project was closed by legislation and the towers again abandoned.
In 1964 [[Screaming Lord Sutch]] set up [[Radio Sutch]] (a [[pirate radio station]]) on one of the old towers. However, he soon became bored and handed the project to his friend and unpaid manager [[Reginald Calvert]], who then expanded into all five towers that were still connected and called it [[Radio City (pirate radio station)|Radio City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/all-hail-sealand/|title=All Hail Sealand|date=20 March 2012|work=The New York Times|author=Frank Jacobs}}</ref> After Calvert was killed by [[Oliver Smedley]], his wife took over for a short time before the project was closed by legislation and the towers again abandoned.


In 1990, the top of the searchlight tower was cut away so that [[helicopter]]s could be used to maintain the weather equipment inside. In 1992, it was decided that the tower was no longer necessary for the continued operation of the instruments contained within, and a large [[buoy]] was placed next to the tower for the same purpose.
In 1990, the top of the searchlight tower was cut away so that [[helicopter]]s could be used to maintain the weather equipment inside. In 1992, it was decided that the tower was no longer necessary for the continued operation of the instruments contained within, and a large [[buoy]] was placed next to the tower for the same purpose.
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==Cultural references==
==Cultural references==
[[File:Shivering Sands Fort from Whitstable.jpg|thumb|Forts as seen from [[Whitstable]]]]
[[File:Shivering Sands Fort from Whitstable.jpg|thumb|Forts as seen from [[Whitstable]], 2012]]
The forts, filmed from a [[North Sea]] ferry, appear in the 1984 music video for the song "[[A Sort of Homecoming (song)|A Sort of Homecoming]]" by the Irish pop music band [[U2]]. <ref>'A Sort of Homecoming' video on Youtube (3.38-3.42 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZoX7yiTpiU</ref>
The forts, filmed from a [[North Sea]] ferry, appear in the 1984 music video for the song "[[A Sort of Homecoming (song)|A Sort of Homecoming]]" by the Irish pop music band [[U2]]. <ref>'A Sort of Homecoming' video on Youtube (3.38-3.42 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZoX7yiTpiU</ref>


The British indie band, The Mystery Jets, filmed the music video of their song Bubblegum at Shivering Sands Army Fort.
The British indie band, [[The Mystery Jets]], filmed the music video of their song "Bubblegum" at Shivering Sands Army Fort.

⚫
Science fiction writer [[Sheila Finch]]'s novella "Not This Tide" used the Shivering Sands fort as one of its settings. <ref>'Not This Tide', [[Asimov's Science Fiction]], January/February 2020, p. 142</ref>


⚫
Science fiction writer [[Sheila Finch]]'s novella ''Not This Tide'' used the Shivering Sands fort as one of its settings.<ref>'Not This Tide', [[Asimov's Science Fiction]], January/February 2020, p. 142</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Maunsell Forts]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 07:22, 5 July 2024

"Shivering Sands" redirects here. Not to be confused with Door County, Wisconsin § Attractions.
Shivering Sands Army Fort
Thames estuary
Shivering Sands Army Fort in 2006
Map
Location in the Thames Estuary
Coordinates51°29.95′N 1°4.48′E / 51.49917°N 1.07467°E / 51.49917; 1.07467
TypeOffshore, anti-aircraft fortress
Site history
Built1943
In use1943-1958
Battles/wars

Shivering Sands Army Fort [U7] was a Maunsell army fort built near the Thames estuary for anti-aircraft defence. It is made up of several once-interconnected towers north of Herne Bay and is 14.8 km (9.2 miles) from the nearest land. They can be viewed from Shoeburyness East Beach on clear days. The Shivering Sands fort was the last of the Thames estuary forts to be constructed, and was grounded between 18 September and 13 December 1943.[1]

History

[edit]

The towers were built on land and floated out in 1943. Later in the war, the equipment was replaced, and removed soon after. The forts were abandoned in 1958. In the 1960s, some weather equipment was installed in the searchlight tower. On 7 June 1963, a boat called the Ribersborg collided with one of the towers, which fell into the sea without harming anyone or sinking the boat.

In 1964 Screaming Lord Sutch set up Radio Sutch (a pirate radio station) on one of the old towers. However, he soon became bored and handed the project to his friend and unpaid manager Reginald Calvert, who then expanded into all five towers that were still connected and called it Radio City.[2] After Calvert was killed by Oliver Smedley, his wife took over for a short time before the project was closed by legislation and the towers again abandoned.

In 1990, the top of the searchlight tower was cut away so that helicopters could be used to maintain the weather equipment inside. In 1992, it was decided that the tower was no longer necessary for the continued operation of the instruments contained within, and a large buoy was placed next to the tower for the same purpose.

In August and September 2005, artist Stephen Turner spent six weeks living alone in the searchlight tower of the Shivering Sands Fort, in what he described as "an artistic exploration of isolation, investigating how one's experience of time changes in isolation, and what creative contemplation means in a 21st-century context".[3][4]

Cultural references

[edit]
Forts as seen from Whitstable, 2012

The forts, filmed from a North Sea ferry, appear in the 1984 music video for the song "A Sort of Homecoming" by the Irish pop music band U2. [5]

The British indie band, The Mystery Jets, filmed the music video of their song "Bubblegum" at Shivering Sands Army Fort.

Science fiction writer Sheila Finch's novella Not This Tide used the Shivering Sands fort as one of its settings.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Turner, Frank R. (1995). The Maunsell Sea Forts. p. 93. ISBN 0-9524303-1-2.
  2. ^ Frank Jacobs (20 March 2012). "All Hail Sealand". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "Alone on the Shivering Sands seafort - Local News - Herne Bay Kent UK". hernebay.inuklocal.co.uk.
  4. ^ "Seafort - blog". www.seafort.org.
  5. ^ 'A Sort of Homecoming' video on Youtube (3.38-3.42 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZoX7yiTpiU
  6. ^ 'Not This Tide', Asimov's Science Fiction, January/February 2020, p. 142

Sources

[edit]
[edit]
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