Hollingbourne Zero Station
If German forces were successful in invading Britain during the Second World War, the dozens of Zero stations would have come into operation. They were …
Deepdene Railway Control Centre
During World War 2, the Deepdene hotel and grounds were taken over by Southern Railway who had chosen the site to be its emergency wartime …
Nazeing Bombing Decoy Bunkers
As aerial bombing emerged during the Second World War so did the defences. In addition to anti-aircraft batteries the Government started to build more discreet …
Canvey’s Last Civil Defence Siren
Canvey Island’s civil defence sirens – used to warn residents of air raids in WWII, potential nuclear bombs in the Cold War, and flood emergencies …
The Gunny – Little Gypps HAA Battery
Tucked away in the Little Gypps area of Canvey Island is a park known as the Gunny/Gunney, and here there was once a WW2 Heavy …
Shooters Hill WW2 Defences
Shooters Hill is one of the highest points in London with a summit of 432 feet. The name is thought to date back to 1226 …
Canvey’s Last & Lost Pillboxes
In the early Second World War – being 1939 or 1940, a total of nine pillboxes, along with other defences and bunkers, were built across …
WT Henley’s Air Raid Shelters
The history of ‘Henley’s’ dates back to 1837 when WT Henley opened a worksop in London, manufacturing covered wires, and went on to become one …
Thorney Bay Coastal Defence Batteries
Canvey Island was a fairly quiet area in the 1930s, so when it became heavily militarised to defend against air, land, and sea on the …
Shoebury Searchlights & Pillbox
East along from Shoebury’s Gunners Park where the old ranges were, along the seawall by the Garrison, lies several WWII coastal defences built to protect …