Shotley

[andym]

Today i was able to go to Shotley and have a gander of what remains of HMS Ganges.it was a bit heartwrending to see the state of whats left.At least the Mast looked a wee bit cared for.I was suprised that the maingates were not a grand and imposing as i would have imagined.It looked like they sold off one block outside the camp for posh flats.At least it still looks like an old MOD building.I couldnt really see too much from the fence,but i saw a huge Tower painted green perched on top of what looked like an old Gun Emplacement.Any ideas what it was?

 

[imom1406]

Today i was able to go to Shotley and have a gander of what remains of HMS Ganges.it was a bit heartwrending to see the state of whats left.At least the Mast looked a wee bit cared for.I was suprised that the maingates were not a grand and imposing as i would have imagined.It looked like they sold off one block outside the camp for posh flats.At least it still looks like an old MOD building.I couldnt really see too much from the fence,but i saw a huge Tower painted green perched on top of what looked like an old Gun Emplacement.Any ideas what it was?

I thought it was a water tower...i go sailing from Levington and pass Shotley regularly!

 

[andym]

I did kind of look like a water tower,but it had an unusual pointy roof on it.I passed a few pubs on the way One was called The Boot,i just wondered how many matelots had had a bevvy in there over the years.One question,how did the new intakes get to Ganges?Was there a rail line and station or were they bussed in from Ipswich?I must admit i had a similar feeling to the one i had on approaching the gates of Raleigh,odd consdering the state of the place.I suppose part of the places "Spirit" still lingers on.

 

[imom1406]

It is still used as a navigation mark when doing sailing courses, and just checked on one of my charts and it is definately a water tower.

 

[andym]

Thanks for that.Looks rather quaint i thought.

 

[Always_a_Civvy]

The building with the green roof sounds like the water tower which also used to be the signal tower, I think. I've posted a picture of it in my gallery I took in 2002, link below. (Note: I used an infra-red filter to take this - so it might look a bit odd).

http://www.rumration.co.uk/cpgn2/coppermine/displayimage/meta=lastup/cat=0/pos=6.html

The old School Block is here

http://www.rumration.co.uk/cpgn2/coppermine/displayimage/meta=lastup/cat=0/pos=2.html

I've also posted some other pics I took at Shotley in 2002. I went in with a friend who was an inmate there in 1967 - and he loved it! 8O Mind you, he was a JMEM! :lol:

Steve/

 

[andym]

Thats the one steve!!!Are those fences on the bottom right the Tennis courts?

 

[Always_a_Civvy]

Thats the one steve!!!Are those fences on the bottom right the Tennis courts?

Probably. Not forgetting the barbed wire, electric fence, watchtowers manned 24/7 with machine guns... but those all went when the Navy moved out and the last trainees escaped :wink:

 

[dunkers]

http://www.rumration.co.uk/cpgn2/coppermine/displayimage/album=42/pos=6.html

Was this used for practicing standing on the button?

I hope the mast didn't sway when you were standing up there :? it would be scary enough trying to avoid the vertigo (not to mention shitting yourself).

 

[andym]

I remember seeing them man the mast on Blue Peter in the 60's and very nearly gave up joining the mob!That mast is bloody high!

 

[Always_a_Civvy]

http://www.rumration.co.uk/cpgn2/coppermine/displayimage/album=42/pos=6.html

Was this used for practicing standing on the button?

I hope the mast didn't sway when you were standing up there :? it would be scary enough trying to avoid the vertigo (not to mention shitting yourself).

The photo's not very clear. There was a Zepellyn raid and a bomb landed on that spot. A little closer and it would demolished the mast and saved countless boys the misery/joy of scrambling aloft. I thought it was the famed golden rivet when I spotted it :wink:

 

[Always_a_Civvy]

I remember seeing them man the mast on Blue Peter in the 60's and very nearly gave up joining the mob!That mast is bloody high!

143 foot to the summit and the Devil's Elbow was 80ft up. The bit I find scary is the thought of having to climb half upside-down round the Elbow. It must have been terrifying for those (like I used to be) scared of hights! I don't know about just having a Button Boy's Medal. They ought to have had a Devil's Elbow Medal!

 

[dt018a9667]

Will you lot stop trying to make me cry. Andy you should have said you were going no doubt you would of had plenty of willing guides (me included). How could they do it to the place?
No doubt some one will get it in the neck for starting us TROGS off again, please note it was not us this time.
By the way if I remember right the tennis courts were just off the Quarterdeck/wardroom heading down towards the F.H &C.

 

[Always_a_Civvy]

I remember seeing them man the mast on Blue Peter in the 60's and very nearly gave up joining the mob!That mast is bloody high!

I didn't actually appreciate how high it actually was - looking up from the base isn't too bad - when I went up "Big Ben" with Nutty we found that the first room we stopped at was 80ft off the deck. Looked out of the window. Bloody hell - that was high up! It was disconcerting just gazing out from behind the glass!

 

[Always_a_Civvy]

Here are a load more of my pics... Thanks to Andy's help with the ImageCave site...