Red Sands, Maunsell Sea Forts

This set of tower forts off the Medway Estuary, along with Shivering Sands and Nore Sands (now removed), were constructed at the beginning of World War II as an Anti Aircraft Battery. The towers orginally had guns placed on the top and the lower rooms, which were used as accomodation, were linked by a gangway. The forts were decommisioned in the 1950s, but saw use during the 1960s as the base of a number of pirate radio stations. Unfortunately, due to weathering and damage from the sea, they are in poor condition and the gangways between the forts have completely rusted away. The future looks promising as Project Redsand have taken over and are maintaining the forts for use as a radio station.

Boat tours to the forts are available through Bay Blast and the X-Pilot boat.

View of the forts

Landing platform installed on one of the forts

The X-Pilot, which has been a key part of the Red Sands Radio Project

Looking between the forts

Ladders up to the fort used for broadcasting

'Radio 390' can be still seen painted on this fort from the 1960s

Close-up of one of the forts
Close-up of another fort, parts of the gangways can still be seen

A view showing both the Red Sands and Shivering Sands Forts