DEFEND THE CAPITAL
Back in the war one of the biggest threats to London and the Navy was the aerial threat of German planes using the Thames as a visual landmark to make their way down to London. The Blitz raged and the crucial London docks were being brought to a standstill. As a result the British response during 1941-42 was to use the expertise of Guy Maunsell, an expert on concrete bridges, to design clusters of stilted buildings carrying guns, searchlights and radar. Each edifice was built on land and then transported and sunk into their watery footings. During the war each tower was manned by 120 men and they were able to cross to the other forts using walkways over the water. In all the forts helped bring down 22 aircraft and 32 flying bombs. After the war they were manned for a few years for basic upkeep but then left abandoned in 1956 to the wind, waves and occasional salvage ship!
