Crownhill Fort Open Weekend March 2013

Crownhill Fort held it's first Open Weekend in three years, staged over the weekend of March 8-10th & I made the most of this rare occurrence by attending the Saturday where the weather was thankfully kind for a change. I for one really hope the Landmark Trust build on from this with more weekend events, with a much needed historic military attraction that will bring in tourism & help boost the local economy. I'm still can't figure out why Plymouth doesn't make more fuss over it's military heritage, after all it's part of the fabric & history of this amazing City, communities have been built around it for the past 150 years. What was once green fields surrounding this massive fortification, is now enveloped in urbanised areas with cannons now overlooking McDonalds - imagine telling a soldier from the time that in the future, his clear line of fire would be replaced with a fast food joint!

Re-enactors had travelled from as far as Leicester & Portsmouth to give some amazing displays with skirmishes on the ramparts & cannon firings that certainly woke the neighbours. Half hour tunnel tours had all ages excited learning the meaning behind terms such as 'musketry gallery' & 'caponiers', with the most impressive close-up display of the Portsdown Artillery Volunteers firing the cannon inside the lower section of the North Caponier whilst riflemen fired from the musket holes. Cornwall Military Vehicle Trust was on display in the parade ground with an impressive array of military vehicles, & if you have ever visited the Military Weekends at Mount Edgcumbe, you are sure to be familiar with this great bunch of people keeping history well & truly live.

Crownhill Fort is the best preserved Palmerston Fort & part of Plymouth's Northern Line of Defences which also include Woodland & Agaton Forts. It's modern use houses a range of businesses & also offers a fantastic venue for events such as weddings. I was pleased to see the Devonport Field Gun now reside here after losing their home in South Yard & learnt from a passionate chap called Dave about the interaction with more schools, keeping this competitive sport alive. The team who make the Fort tick have a real passion for keeping the history alive as could be witnessed on the guided tours from Fort Manager, Ed. A huge conservation programme has been ongoing at the fort for the past 3 years involving helicopters in the assistance of moving trees from the surrounding moat.  The day wasn't as busy as I thought it could be, so be sure to keep an eye out for future dates as local events like this need your support & I guarantee you will have a fun packed day, even if you're not that into your history, it makes for an ideal day out for all the family!

Until next time....the night guard watch over the Fort.

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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!