Shivering Sands Army Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shivering Sands Army Fort |
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| Thames estuary | |
Shivering Sands Army Fort in 2006
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| Coordinates | 51°29.95′N 1°4.48′E / 51.49917°N 1.07467°E |
| Type | Offshore, anti-aircraft fortress |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
| In use | 1943-1958 |
| Battles/wars | |
The Shivering Sands Army Fort was a special kind of fortress built in the sea. It was part of a group called Maunsell army forts. These forts were created to protect England from enemy aircraft during World War II.
The Shivering Sands Fort is located in the Thames Estuary, which is a wide river mouth in England. It is made up of several towers that were once connected. These towers are about 14.8 kilometers (9.2 miles) from the nearest land. On clear days, you can see them from Shoeburyness East Beach. The Shivering Sands fort was the last of the Thames Estuary forts to be built. It was put into place between September and December 1943.
History of the Sea Forts
The towers of the Shivering Sands Fort were first built on land. Then, they were floated out into the sea in 1943. During World War II, they helped defend against air attacks. After the war, the equipment inside the forts was changed. Soon after, it was removed completely. The forts were left empty in 1958.
Life After the War
In the 1960s, some special equipment was put in one of the towers. This equipment was used to measure the weather. On June 7, 1963, a boat called the Ribersborg accidentally crashed into one of the towers. That tower fell into the sea. Luckily, no one was hurt, and the boat was fine.
Pirate Radio Station
In 1964, a musician named Screaming Lord Sutch started a pirate radio station on one of the old towers. Pirate radio stations broadcast without a proper license. He called his station Radio Sutch. However, he soon got bored. He gave the project to his friend, Reginald Calvert.
Reginald Calvert then made the radio station bigger. He used all five towers that were still connected. He renamed it Radio City. Later, the station faced problems and was eventually closed down by new laws. The towers were left empty once again.
Modern Uses and Art
In 1990, the top part of the searchlight tower was cut off. This was done so that helicopters could land there. It helped people maintain the weather equipment inside. By 1992, the tower was no longer needed for the weather instruments. A large buoy was placed next to the tower to do the same job.
In 2005, an artist named Stephen Turner did something unique. He spent six weeks living alone in the searchlight tower of the Shivering Sands Fort. He called this an "artistic exploration of isolation." He wanted to see how being alone changed his experience of time. He also explored what creative thinking means in today's world.
