Have you ever heard of Sealand? Well we can get into the nuts and bolts of it later, but this “country” exists on what is called a Maunsell Fort. This of course begs the question of what a Maunsell Fort!
Well YPT took a trip to the Maunsell Fort known as Redsands off of the coast of Queensborough to see not just what they are like, but indeed how to visit them. And it was a whole heap cooler than we ever would have expected.
Table of Contents
What the Maunsell Forts?
The Maunsell Forts are a series of offshore defensive structures built during World War Two to protect the Thames Estuary and the approaches to London. They were designed by British engineer Guy Maunsell and constructed between 1942 and 1943 at a time when German air raids and naval mines posed a serious threat to shipping and industry.
There are two main types of Maunsell Forts. The first are the Army forts, which consist of multiple steel towers mounted on reinforced concrete legs and connected by steel walkways. Redsand Towers and Shivering Sands are the best known examples of these and were armed with anti aircraft guns and radar equipment. These forts were manned by dozens of soldiers who lived on site for long periods in harsh conditions.
The second type are the Navy forts, which are single large structures rather than clusters. The most famous of these is Roughs Tower, later declared the Principality of Sealand. Knock John Fort is another Navy style fort and is structurally similar to Sealand, although it never attempted statehood. All of the forts were decommissioned in the 1950s and left abandoned in the estuary.
What is the history of Redsand fort?
Redsand Fort was completed in 1943 as part of the Army Maunsell Fort system. It consists of seven towers arranged in a loose arc, each standing on concrete legs sunk into the seabed. The towers housed gun emplacements, crew quarters and operational rooms, all connected by elevated walkways.
At its peak Redsand was manned by around 120 personnel whose role was to defend the Thames shipping lanes and nearby industrial areas from aerial attack. Life on the fort was isolated and physically demanding, with constant exposure to wind, sea and noise.
After the war the fort was abandoned and fell into disrepair. In the 1960s it found a second life as a base for pirate radio stations, including Radio Invicta and King Radio, which broadcast illegal music and programming from the fort to listeners across the south east of England. This era added to the fort’s reputation as an offshore outpost beyond the reach of authority. Eventually pirate radio was shut down and Redsand was once again left empty.
How do you visit Redsand Fort?
Visiting Redsand fort will first mean going to the Isle of Sheppey, which in itself is a bit of an epic trip and then joining a tour, or chartering a boat from one of the two main operators, namely X-Pilot, Jetstream, or apparently Brownes. We personally chose X-Pilot, due to their cost, availability and overall specialization in the region.
We will come back and cover their contact and the like later in the article, but they are for all intents the people to go with. The trip itself takes you past Deadman’s Island, before you go to the forts and the SS Montgomery. The whole cost was about 500 Sterling, or $650 to charter for the 4 hour trip. Again more on this later.
The X-Pilot ship
You set off from the beautiful dock in Queensborough, probably the best town in Sheppey and one with great pubs, micro pubs and restaurants. The name of the ship itself is X-Pilot, an old tugboat which has a great indoor area with a gallery down near the poop deck, as well as a main area with a kitchen and seating area that if nothing else protects you from the elements.
There is also ample room up top, front and back to enjoy the tour and take some photos. And it moves pretty good, although on rougher days you might get splashed by the wash. Captain Alan and first officer Martin then look after you for the trip, with some excellent guiding through their knowledge of the area.
And the trip itself?
I have personally long had an obsession with both Sheppey and the Maunsell forts for a long time, so therefore was fairly excited about the trip. The whole experience though absolutely blew my mind and was far better than I thought.
So, how does it roll? Basically and as stated you head off from Queenborough, past Deadman’s Island and the Montgomery and then onto Redsand Forts, which takes about an hour, or so. Depending on the day you can see the forts from a distance, but it is when you are there that you see the magic. And you get pretty damned close, basically being on the periphery, doing loops and taking pictures. Said pictures when sliced with the frankly stunning if not desolation like skies and suns are just the perfect combo.
Here you also get a full explanation of what they were used for and indeed how people lived here, something you can then combine with what you are seeing to get a real understanding. I guess we probably spent about an hour here before heading to the SS Montgomery.
The SS Richard Montgomery lies further along the route and is marked by danger buoys. The wreck still contains a large quantity of unexploded munitions from World War Two. Boats are not permitted to approach closely. Some believe that if the cargo ever exploded it could cause major damage along Kent’s coast and potentially trigger a tidal surge.
And you rock back home with choices to enjoy the view outside, or to sit inside in the warm enjoying a beer, or even Pina Colada (we did that).
Click to read my guide to Sheppey.
Booking with X-Pilot
X-Pilot offer multiple ways to see the Maunsell Forts depending on your budget and group size. The X-Pilot ship takes up to 12 passengers.
Contact details
Email: xpilotkent@gmail.com
Main phone: 01795 487568
Mobile: 07960 574821
Ship’s mobile: 07952 784311
Address: Marine A Services, 74 Holmside Avenue, Minster on Sea, ME12 3EY
Facebook: facebook.com/xpilotkent
Departure point for tours: All Tide Landing, Crundells Wharf, Queenborough Harbour, Isle of Sheppey, ME11 5EL
Group tours:
Scheduled trips from Queenborough dock to the Maunsell Forts and SS Richard Montgomery.
- Redsand Fort & Montgomery trip (about 4 hours)
- Forts Tour (about 5 hours, includes Redsand and Shivering Sands)
- Grand Forts Tour (about 7 hours, includes Redsand, Shivering Sands, Knock John Fort, Montgomery wreck, Kentish Flats Wind Farm, Grain Tower Battery)
Groups typically 8–12 people, fully guided by Captain Alan and Martin.
Private charters:
Fully bespoke half day or full day trips with flexible routing depending on tides and weather. Maximum 12 passengers.
Other services:
- Photography-focused tours for amateur and professional photographers
- Educational trips covering history, architecture, and wartime operation of the forts
- Corporate bookings and team-building trips
- Onboard catering optional, including drinks and snacks
And that is how you check out a Maunsel Fort! And while we don’t yet offer it is a “tour”. We just might in the future….
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