Hoo Island Part I - Abandoned Victorian military fort
Published 2018-04-09
Join me as I kayak over to a small island in the River Medway, Kent - to explore an abandoned Victorian fort and its surrounds.
Hoo Fort and Darnet fort were built in the 19th century. Hoo Fort was completed in approximately 1871. These twin forts were to be placed on either side of the main Medway channel, the idea being to control the channel with a boom between the two islands, whist defending the approaches by means of two powerful batteries of guns. They were built to play a role in defending the UK in the mid 19th century.
Hoo fort was equipped with eleven 9 inch rifled-muzzle loading (R.M.L) guns.
The fort was disarmed and abandoned before the first world war. During the 2nd world war it was used as an observation point.
(info from "Medway Island Forts" by R Crowdy)
We had a great day searching for history on the island. This is part one.
As always, if you can identify any of the finds then please let me know.
Thank you for watching!
Nicola
www.tidelineart.com
All Comments (21)
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You might be interested to know my grand parents lived on the island around the 1920 s they lived in a tin bungalow at the other end of the island a lot of rubbish was dumped there from the dock yard I can remember visiting a family there as a young child ,My mother was ferried across the Medway to school as a young girl by to dockyard workers ,she nearly drowned on more than one once when falling out of the boat,Grand dad finished as a foreman in the yard I think there used to be a small railway on the island taking rubbish from the barges ,my uncles worked the dredgers on the Medway.
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The graduated numbered arc is most likely part of a Gunner's Quadrant used to accurately elevate a cannon's barrel to achieve a certain range. There would have been a bubble level and the arc would move up and down within a raceway. When the bubble became centered within the glass level, the barrel would have been aimed at the correct angle to achieve the range specified on the arc.
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That was a great beginning to your series on the Hoo. I am so thankful for your knowledge and for sharing your adventures.
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I'm simply having a ball watching your adventures!! Thank you for taking many others and I along with you! 😀
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Another fantastic adventure and history lesson. Love the studio shot. Thanks again.
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What a wonderful place you have I could spend along time just looking around , thankyou very much .
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Another great video Nicola love all the history, your studio looks so interesting cannot wait for the next instalment
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Fantastic video and some amazing finds. It's like a treasure trove. You can only imagine whats out there to be found. Looking forward to seeing the next part :)
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Rich with history! Great finds, well done
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Very good day out, great finds!! Thank you for the trip! Happy hunting and the best of luck to you Nicola!!
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hi Nicola, well that was an amazing vid,,realy enjoyd it,what a real nice place the fort is on,bet it wasn't so quiet away back in the day,fantastic,thanks for taking us along,much apreciated folks,finds too are fantastic,looking forward to the next,cheers kc Keith, Scotland. peace,👍.
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just gets better ....looking foward to part two immensely. ...
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I am a British expatriate living in the USA, I learned to read with Enid Blyton books...especially the Famous Five!!! Love your vids..so informative and entertaining 🥰
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Nice vid. I remember back in the early 80s i would go with my family to this island. Been there a few times and nothing has changed.
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Nicola you go on some of the most wonderful adventures - thank you for sharing them!
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So enjoyable! So much to see on the island. There were some really interesting pieces of masonary & blue bricks etc. Thank you!
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Great video Nicola, very interesting. Thank you.
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Action woman you are very brave with your kayaking! Interesting information thank you. GL and HH
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I love seeing the behind the scenes part of how you do your research , brilliant!!
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I love the sound of birdsong early in the morning before the sun comes up. Fantastic video Nicola!
