Who is brave enough to post a selfie?

[Tony Lockhart]

At the protected Chain Home tower on the old Marconi site, Gt Baddow, Chelmsford, a couple of days ago. This is the most complete tower remaining, and is easily visible from the A12. Originally erected at Canewdon for its intended purpose.

 

[Nero]

I seem to remember there were three of those at one time? Maybe only one was listed.

I also remember something similar up towards Manningtree? Strange thing, memeory

 

[Tony Lockhart]

I seem to remember there were three of those at one time? Maybe only one was listed.

I also remember something similar up towards Manningtree? Strange thing, memeory

Only ever the one Chain Home transmitter tower at Gt Baddow, the other two or three at its original site were scrapped in the 50s after being used to train aerial erectors.
The tower near Manningtree at Little Bromley is still there. Towards the end of the war, the Little Bromley site was used to spot the distinctive signature of a V2 launch, thus giving the RAF the location of a launch site to destroy.

The remaining Little Bromley Chain Home tower

 

[Nero]

Thanks for that. I got sucked down an internet rabbit hole, and now I know they were bleeding everywhere - Bawdsey, Ventnor, Poling, Pevensey, Dunkirk, York etc etc. It seemed that three were built at Baddow, which ties with my memory which must be around 1965-ish (pre A12 Chelmsford bypass - I always remember that flyover at one of the roundabouts in Chelmsford, and trying to get my dad to drive over it for fun)
It's amazing what you learn on PFM!

 

[Tony Lockhart]

Thanks for that. I got sucked down an internet rabbit hole, and now I know they were bleeding everywhere - Bawdsey, Ventnor, Poling, Pevensey, Dunkirk, York etc etc. It seemed that three were built at Baddow, which ties with my memory which must be around 1965-ish (pre A12 Chelmsford bypass - I always remember that flyover at one of the roundabouts in Chlemsford, and trying to get my dad to drive over it for fun)
It's amazing what you learn on PFM!

Try this rabbit hole! Clicking on the blue towers takes you to the Google Maps location.

http://www.anti-aircraft.co.uk/chain_home_map.html

 

[MikeMA]

Try this rabbit hole! Clicking on the blue towers takes you to the Google Maps location.

http://www.anti-aircraft.co.uk/chain_home_map.html

That's interesting. I remember as a youngster the masts at Pevensey and over on Romney Marsh before they were dismantled, and other different looking stuff up on Beachy Head which was still operational until the late 50s/early 60s - all gone now.

 

[eternumviti]

I always tip my cap at the Gt.Baddow tower as I pass up the A12, as I shall be doing in an hour or so.

 

[Tony Lockhart]

I think there are five remaining towers.

Bt Baddow
Little Bromley
Stoke Holy Cross near Norwich
Stenigot on the Lincolnshire Wolds
Swingate near Dover

I’ve seen the first four, will try to combine a trip to Swingate with a few other sites of interest in the area at some point (Dover Castle, Bleriot’s ‘landing’ site, Dungeness)

 

[Gromit]

I was told that adding a filter would make me look younger...

With added filter by Boxertrixter, on Flickr

 

[Tony Lockhart]

I was told that adding a filter would make me look younger...

With added filter by Boxertrixter, on Flickr

Just younger than the rest of us

 

[MikeMA]

I think there are five remaining towers.

Bt Baddow
Little Bromley
Stoke Holy Cross near Norwich
Stenigot on the Lincolnshire Wolds
Swingate near Dover

I’ve seen the first four, will try to combine a trip to Swingate with a few other sites of interest in the area at some point (Dover Castle, Bleriot’s ‘landing’ site, Dungeness)

Just along the coast from me. I've seen the Swingate Tower. There was a massive transmitter tower at Dungeness up until a few years ago when it was dismantled. I love Dungeness, particularly at night when the nuclear power stations are all lit up .

 

[Tony Lockhart]

When someone asks me a technical question at work

 

[Tony Lockhart]

Just along the coast from me. I've seen the Swingate Tower. There was a massive transmitter tower at Dungeness up until a few years ago when it was dismantled. I love Dungeness, particularly at night when the nuclear power stations are all lit up .

I had a trip with a mate to Dungeness organised… then Covid. Must get round to that again.

 

[Tony Lockhart]

Not a selfie really, but a long list mate sent this today. Me on the right, families day air show, Marham 1986 ish.

 

[eternumviti]

I thought you said it was a families show!

 

[gintonic]

20220225_160921 by uh_simon, on Flickr

 

[Tony Lockhart]

Compressor wash last week. Another tomorrow.

 

[suzywong]

What’s the aircraft?

 

[linnfomaniac83]

 

[Tony Lockhart]

What’s the aircraft?

Apache