Plymouth From Above - Aerial Surreal

Just before the closure of Plymouth Airport in 2011, we took the opportunity to grab a bird's eye view of Plymouth & the surrounding areas & view the many sites we have been documenting from the air. Something we had been wanting to do for a long while is see the forts & defensive structures from the air, to study how the landscapes have changed over time. We even managed to document some of the surrounding military & industrial landscapes including the former RAF Harrowbeer WWII airfield at Yelverton, & the vast moonscape looking China Clay pits of Lee Moor. Bring back Plymouth Airport, that's what I say!

Welcome to Plymouth!

Marsh Mills - atop the hill foliage conceals Efford & Laira Forts

Laira Bridge

Oreston & Radford Lake

Pre-flight I had mapped out a list of fortifications I wanted to capture from above, but it was only evident when we were a few hundred feet up that the task was going to be a tad difficult than planned. After all, this was my first experience of aerial photography, combine that with reading a map & a list from memory....it was worth the wait that's for sure. As soon as we reached the view of Staddon Heights, I could finally see the levels of fortifications that protected the the Eastern approaches of Plymouth Sound. Flying over the Breakwater we headed over to Mount Edgcumbe, into Cornish airspace to seek out the Palmerston Forts that protected the Western flanks.....we weren't to be disappointed.

Staddon Fort & Golf Club

Staddon Heights Defences & Bovisand

Flying over the Breakwater looking over Drake's Island, The Hoe & beyond

Fort Picklecombe - now a private estate stunningly converetd

The only downside to the flight was the low mist that you can clearly see in some of the photos, hence the low visibility in the coastal images. Flying over the Tamar Bridges was a great highlight, as was over our house (had to get a photo, you know the drill!) & seeing the way areas of Plymouth have developed comparing with our maps of 1890.

 The Tamar Bridge & Brunel's masterpiece - The Royal Albert bridge

A misty day over the Tamar

Agaton Fort nestled among the housing at Ernesettle

Crownhill Fort & a view toward the now closed Plymouth Airport

The huge clay pits of Lee Moor look amazing on the ground but above adds a totally different dimension, giving a true sense of scale. The bright blue pits of blue water surrounding the white clay look breathtaking, a man-made lunar landscape set amid stunning natural landscapes. It truly does make for phenonemenal viewing & it's right on our doorstep!

The stunning variations of landscape at Lee Moor

The Dewerstone

After flying over the Dewerstone, we headed directly for the former WWII airfield RAF Harrowbeer at Yelverton. I have documented RAF bases all over the UK but this was a first for seeing it as a fighter pilot would. I've walked the airfield many a time & always try pop in for a nice brew at Knightstone Tea Rooms where there is a fantastic archive on display.

Looking across Yelverton & the former RAF Harrowbeer airfield

Fighter pens at RAF Harrowbeer

The Rock & a WWII fighter pen

Then back to Plymouth & a sound landing to head off documenting another site on land this time. I for one, do hope that the Viable group can bring the airport back to life as I think there would be many Plymothians wanting to take the views in for themselves! What do you think?

Bring back Plymouth Airport!

Plymouth's Tunnel Myths

Okay, where do we start....

"There's a tunnel that leads from Drake's Island to The Hoe"

"There's tunnels under The Hoe"

"There's a top secret tunnel network under Mount Wise"

"I have a bunker in my garden"

"My old school had air raid shelters under the playground"

"All the forts in Plymouth are connected by underground passageways"

Aaah, there you are - no longer a myth!

Since beginning my quest in 2006 to find Plymouth's hidden heritage, I came across many a Janner with stories of lost tunnels with some of the quotes from above. Each city, town or village has them & people are fascinated by them, the mysterious dark, & for some, scary thoughts of forgotten tunnels, lost air raid shelters & underground passageways that have been unexplored for years.

Welcome to the 'Urban Myth'.

Of the quotes above, some are true others have yet to be proven & only yesterday did I have another myth thrown at me about a tunnel leading to Drake's Island from Plympton St Maurice - by far the best tunnel myth heard this year. Thankfully around 95% of the myths actually lead to something & all credit goes to the people who help us with our research, especially the elder generations who have directed us to some great locations.

Tunnel myths expelled - top secret WWII HQ 

A portion of the myths though, have yet to see the light of day or proven their worth, & as a never say never person, I for one would to love to uncover that long lost tunnel to Drake's - wouldn't we all!

It has to rank high up as the most renowned myth, alongside the one that tells us of Plymouth's Napoleonic Forts all being connected by underground passageways with none ever found.......until 2007!

If you are an avid follower of Cyberheritage  you may read his article about the person  who came across this pretty amazing find. Aptly named Plymouth Urban Myth Tunnel, Mr X the discoverer, found something that has experts baffled. What he recorded visually & practically, gives weight to the myth that there may be lost passageways linking the forts.Or could it simply have been for another purpose?

Coming next on the blog - Tunnel X -Our own research