I’ve found a little more information about those old British sea-forts I referenced the other day. There are actually quite a few Web sites that mention the “Maunsell forts” — so-called because they were designed by an engineer named Guy Maunsell — although, curiously, most of these sites seem to be more focused on the “unofficial” radio stations the forts hosted in the ’60s. I guess the pirate stations were quite popular in their day, either that or else anyone who had anything to do with them now has a Web site.

In any event, I have learned that efforts are underway to save one of these old structures after all. Project Redsand is an organization working to restore Redsand Towers, one of the two remaining Maunsell forts in the Thames Estuary. (There were also offshore forts built in other locations around Britain.) Redsand is considered the best candidate for preservation, since all seven of its towers are still standing and a 2004 survey revealed them to be in surprisingly good condition.
The project’s Web site contains quite a bit of information if you’re interested in this sort of thing, including a detailed history page. Among the factoids that caught my eye:

…three forts… were built in the Thames estuary, between May and December, 1943. They were known as the Nore, Redsand and Shivering Sands Army Forts. Each fort accommodated up to 265 men.

 

…the Thames forts shot down 22 planes, 30 flying bombs, and were instrumental in the loss of one U-boat, which was scuttled after coming under fire…

I find these forts fascinating, and I’m not quite sure why. Something about the way they look, maybe, crouched over the water on giant legs anchored to the sea-bed. I’m intrigued by oil-rigs, too, not because I have any particular interest in the oil industry, but just because they look cool to me; the Maunsell forts have the added attraction of an interesting history and the romantically run-down appearance that some old industrial sites acquire after going without maintenance for a while. To see what I mean by “romance,” check out the photos of Redsand at sunset on this site.