Beacon Hill Battery
| Beacon Hill Battery | |
|---|---|
|
Harwich Essex England | |
  Beacon Hill Battery | |
| Coordinates | 51°56′17″N 1°17′21″E / 51.9381°N 1.2892°ECoordinates: 51°56′17″N 1°17′21″E / 51.9381°N 1.2892°E |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Derelict, overgrown |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1889-92 |
| Materials |
Earth Concrete |
Beacon Hill Battery (also known as Beacon Hill Fort) was built to defend the port of Harwich, Essex.
The first fortification built on the site was a blockhouse, constructed in 1534 during the reign of Henry VIII. This site was abandoned within ten years. After the death of Henry VIII the site was rearmed. By 1625 the site had again fallen into disrepair and Harwich was considered to be defenceless.
The site accommodated most of the Harwich army and militia camp during almost the whole French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars era, and a naval signal station. In the 19th century, prior to the building of the Breakwater, sea erosion swept away much of the site. The Harwich Redoubt, completed 200 yards to the north in 1810, was originally known as the Harwich Circular Battery, and had 10 24-pdr guns. In 1862 these guns were upgraded as a result of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom.
(Sources: National Archives WO 30/67 and 100—Defences of Eastern District, maps of proposed Martello Tower sites in MMH1 series; sketches of Harwich by Captain Durant at Hampshire Cultural Trust Peter Kent's "Fortifications of East Anglia").
By the 1880s the fort was considered outdated and in 1889 work began on a totally new fort, which was completed in 1892.[1] After World War I the fort was disarmed and sold. In 1940 it was bought back into service as a consequence of World War II and a twin 6 Pounder gun position and director tower were built. It became known as Cornwallis Battery. It was manned by men of the 515th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery.
The site also included the two 6-inch guns of Beacon Hill Battery. Both were manned by men of the 515th Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery. The hexagonal brick radar tower, adjacent to the site, dates from 1941 and, together with electrical firing stations at the breakwater corner, and at Landguard Point, was for controlling the defensive mines in the harbour entrance. It did not control the fire of the guns—new radar at Landguard arriving for this purpose in 1944. The Beacon Hill site also from time to time housed anti-aircraft guns and torpedo tubes.
The fort was finally decommissioned in 1956 on the dissolution of coast artillery in the United Kingdom.
According to a report in the Metro (British newspaper) on 26 September 2014, the World War II radar tower at the fort was the least-visited attraction in Great Britain in 2013. There were 6 visitors.
References
- ↑ Plans of Beacon Hill Battery, The National Archives, WO78/5141
2. National Archive files WO 166/1718---515 Coast Defence War Diary; WO 166 series Eastern Command, 11 Corps, 15 Division, Essex Division, 45 Division, 223 Brigade, War Diaries; ADM 199/823—Minelaying/Minefields).