Stokes Bay England
by Terri Waters
Title
Stokes Bay England
Artist
Terri Waters
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Stokes Bay, often referred to as 'The Jewel in Gosport's Crown', has a rich heritage both natural and man-made.
It is unusual in that it has remained as an open area available to local people and visitors for a wide variety of recreational purposes including sailing, windsurfing, kite flying, football, tennis, miniature golf, p'tanque and a toddlers' paddling pool.
The shingle shore is noted for its remarkable flora and many varieties of birds. The lagoons east of Gilkicker, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the unspoilt natural area to the east, are a delight for walkers.
The Bay owes its unspoilt character to its past as an area of military defence. In the 19th century a line of defensive forts, batteries and a moat were constructed. Two of the batteries remain today and recently No. 2 Battery was opened as a Diving Museum.
During World War II the Bay was an important location with much of it being concreted over in preparation for the D-Day landings and the building of parts of the Mulberry Harbour Caissons. It was from here that large numbers of troops including the Canadians embarked for the landings.
The Spithead forts were built in the Solent in the 1860's to protect Portsmouth from bombardment from the sea, at the same time as the Gosport and Portsdown land forts were built. Horse Sands, No Mans Land and St Helens Forts were built 1865-80, and Spitbank was started 2 years later. Ryde Fort was abandoned shortly after construction started becouse of unstable foundations.
Horse Sands and No Mans Land are identical at 200 foot in diameter and fully armour plated. The other 2 are slightly smaller at 150 foot diameter with iron plating on the front only.
The forts had complements of 30 men. They cost two to three times as much to build as the land forts, due to the difficulties involved in constructing foundations 20 to 30 foot under water on sand banks.
Spitbank Fort is open April - October. Horse Sands, No Mans Land and St Helens Forts are privately owned.
Uploaded
May 9th, 2015
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