Defending the works

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by clueless1, Jul 31, 2013.

  1. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    During WW2, German forces tried desperately to knock out steel production and ship building on Teesside (and elsewhere of course). There's always been a lot of industry here and knocking it out would have dealt us a serious blow. In the days of very primitive RADAR (and no RADAR at all for the first couple of year I think, or was that WW1?), it was also geographically a fairly easy target, being just across the North sea. Close enough for an air raid or assault from sea, but far enough away to quickly leg it without being cornered.

    Needless to say, it was very heavily defended. There's loads of pill boxes and gun installations along the dunes and gare. Many have fallen in the sea, or been mostly buried under the shifting dunes, but some good examples remain. I found this one while out on my walk today.

    Check out the two huge concrete blocks with the remains of a massive steel bolt in one of them. Hmmm. I wonder what used to stand on there.

    IMAG1435 (Custom).jpg

    The view from inside the pill box will make it pretty obvious what its purpose was. We must remember that the dunes weren't as big then. That big dune in the left of the view will have grown substantially as it accumulated drifting sand over the past 70 years, so the view would have took in much more of the sea when the pill box was put there.

    IMAG1436 (Custom).jpg

    There's a back window too. I wonder what that lets us see?

    IMAG1437 (Custom).jpg

    Oh yes, that would be the blast furnace then. The very heart of the steel works. Get that, and there's no steel production on Teesside any more.
     
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    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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      There was loads of pill boxes and stuff like this in the area I grew up in - not really sure why Dumfries & Galloway would need so much in the way of defences, but apparently it did. It was great fun as a kid going on wee adventures in the abandoned pill boxes
       
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      • Phil A

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        You'm putting up some quality stuff tonight Clue :dbgrtmb:

        And welcome back FC :dbgrtmb:
         
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        • Fat Controller

          Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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          Thanks Zigs - I was getting withdrawal symptoms not being able to log in :biggrin:
           
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          • clueless1

            clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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            As opposed to the drivel I put up most nights:snork:
             
          • Phil A

            Phil A Guest

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            :lunapic 130165696578242 5:

            Don't think you'm ever put up drivel my friend :biggrin:

            Might have put a bit of avant garde stuff :chicken::dbgrtmb:
             
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