From the Department of Random Coolness comes a nifty photo gallery of abandoned World War II-vintage sea-forts constructed in the Thames Estuary to defend Britain from Nazi attacks. There were three such forts in the Estuary, all consisting of off-shore platforms similar to modern-day oil rigs, bristling with guns and arrayed around a central control tower. One of these forts has collapsed in the 60 years since the end of the war, but the others are still standing out there in the water, slowly decaying memorials to a time most of us Internet users can't even imagine. I especially like this photo, in which the towers look like Martian war machines straight out of H.G. Wells.
And there's more, too: At one point in the '60s, one of these abandoned forts was home to a pirate radio station. Photos from that time period are here, along with the sad news that the British government wants to demolish these fascinating old relics...
If you've got nothing else going on right now, check 'em out!
Posted by jason at November 7, 2005 10:59 PMHow on earth do you find these things? :)
Posted by: anne at November 8, 2005 09:48 AMBoing Boing, of course. Where else? :)
Posted by: jason at November 8, 2005 09:50 AMFacinating!!!
I get creepy feelings when looking at these. What an amazing story. There is one pic that looks like one of the transient radio guys is standing next to what looks like an outhouse toilet shaft. Wonder if they just pooped into the water 50 feet below? Bombs away!!!!!
Thanks for the link. Really, really cool.
cheno
Posted by: cheno at November 10, 2005 08:09 AMGlad you liked this, Cheno -- I'm working on a follow-up entry with some more info, I just haven't gotten around to posting it yet. As for the toilet facilities, I wouldn't be surprised if they did just drop the stuff overboard. Probably the easiest way to deal with it. And it could be a deterrant to anyone trying to climb up the legs from the sea below!
Posted by: jason at November 10, 2005 09:23 AM