Portsdown Hill in Pompey, and it's fascinating history...
Discussion
If this has been discussed before on here, with the same link, then apologies - please ignore!
Like many of us on the South Coast, I often enjoy a tea and a burger on Portsdown Hill in Pompey, especially after a Sunday blat
Then last year I visited the new-ish, excellent Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson, whereupon I found out some more about the place, and it's strategic military importance over the years. Following that, I was then part of an exercise at Fort Widley, which really piqued my interest even more!
Recently, a friend of mine pointed me to a fascinating website all about the history of Portsdown, including all the tunnels, the military history, etc.
Link here
Enjoy!
Like many of us on the South Coast, I often enjoy a tea and a burger on Portsdown Hill in Pompey, especially after a Sunday blat
Then last year I visited the new-ish, excellent Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson, whereupon I found out some more about the place, and it's strategic military importance over the years. Following that, I was then part of an exercise at Fort Widley, which really piqued my interest even more!
Recently, a friend of mine pointed me to a fascinating website all about the history of Portsdown, including all the tunnels, the military history, etc.
Link here
Enjoy!
SofaBear said:
Royal Armouries sometimes do some blank firings down there too, which are always impressive
I use to be able to hear them going off from my office!
They always have the 'midday' gun firing. You can pay a fee to fire this yourself, as we did for my father-in-law to fire. He seemed to enjoy it!I use to be able to hear them going off from my office!
If you get a chance to do a bit of airsoft you can get into the Portsdown tunnels and play soldiers, now there's an idea 
http://ucap.co.uk/history/
http://ucap.co.uk/history/The history on the hill is amazing. I can't find the now but there's a few derelict sites that have pictures.
The first is a radio hub in the face of the chalk cliffs. it used to be a ground level but the chalk mine restarted after the war. So the entrance is now 30' odd up.
There's also a telephone exchange, that dug into the back of the hill to handle MOD call during the cold war. So its designed to work after a nuclear strike with generator's to turn for something like a week after the grid goes down.
. then there's the oil tanks for the old ships. Which the royal yacht Britannia was last to rely on. Basically west of fort nelson is a fuel tank
The first is a radio hub in the face of the chalk cliffs. it used to be a ground level but the chalk mine restarted after the war. So the entrance is now 30' odd up.
There's also a telephone exchange, that dug into the back of the hill to handle MOD call during the cold war. So its designed to work after a nuclear strike with generator's to turn for something like a week after the grid goes down.
. then there's the oil tanks for the old ships. Which the royal yacht Britannia was last to rely on. Basically west of fort nelson is a fuel tank
TheConverted said:
The history on the hill is amazing. I can't find the now but there's a few derelict sites that have pictures.
The first is a radio hub in the face of the chalk cliffs. it used to be a ground level but the chalk mine restarted after the war. So the entrance is now 30' odd up.
There's also a telephone exchange, that dug into the back of the hill to handle MOD call during the cold war. So its designed to work after a nuclear strike with generator's to turn for something like a week after the grid goes down.
. then there's the oil tanks for the old ships. Which the royal yacht Britannia was last to rely on. Basically west of fort nelson is a fuel tank
If you can't find them have a look at the o/p's link.......The first is a radio hub in the face of the chalk cliffs. it used to be a ground level but the chalk mine restarted after the war. So the entrance is now 30' odd up.
There's also a telephone exchange, that dug into the back of the hill to handle MOD call during the cold war. So its designed to work after a nuclear strike with generator's to turn for something like a week after the grid goes down.
. then there's the oil tanks for the old ships. Which the royal yacht Britannia was last to rely on. Basically west of fort nelson is a fuel tank
normalbloke said:
TheConverted said:
The history on the hill is amazing. I can't find the now but there's a few derelict sites that have pictures.
The first is a radio hub in the face of the chalk cliffs. it used to be a ground level but the chalk mine restarted after the war. So the entrance is now 30' odd up.
There's also a telephone exchange, that dug into the back of the hill to handle MOD call during the cold war. So its designed to work after a nuclear strike with generator's to turn for something like a week after the grid goes down.
. then there's the oil tanks for the old ships. Which the royal yacht Britannia was last to rely on. Basically west of fort nelson is a fuel tank
If you can't find them have a look at the o/p's link.......The first is a radio hub in the face of the chalk cliffs. it used to be a ground level but the chalk mine restarted after the war. So the entrance is now 30' odd up.
There's also a telephone exchange, that dug into the back of the hill to handle MOD call during the cold war. So its designed to work after a nuclear strike with generator's to turn for something like a week after the grid goes down.
. then there's the oil tanks for the old ships. Which the royal yacht Britannia was last to rely on. Basically west of fort nelson is a fuel tank
I'll get my coat.
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