East Merstham Mobilisation Centre, also known as Alderstead Fort, is one of a line of 13 fortifications built for the defence of London at the end of the 19th Century and beginning of the 20th Century. They stretch from North Weald in Essex to Guildford, most being located high up on the Surrey downs, and varied in form. They were basically a row of casemates, which were the ordnance stores, with surrounding earthworks and a fortified entrance. The fort at East Merstham is little altered, but is now in a wooded area and largely overgown. The casemates are in good condition, with doors remaining and a number of stencilled signs above doorways. Unfortunately, there is water ingress and the shell stores and their lighting passages were too flooded to enter when visited.
This site is private land, many thanks to the owner for allowing me to visit.
Left flank loopholed wall
Casemate block
Entrances to the casemates
Looking into one of the casemates
Passage between the casemates
Passage leading to the magazines
Looking back the other way
Lighting passage around the magazine
(Fuze and)? Tube Store
Metal door into
Inside another casemate
Original doors remaining
Right flank loopholed wall
8 comments:
I have paid a few visits with friends to Alderstead Fort when I was about 10 years old, that is now almost 60 years ago. To enhance the excitement, we would refer to the construction in question as the Dungeons...
My Gt Grandfather was in charge of the fort and lived in the fort cottage from about 1900 until 1924
This is greatly amazing place! | https://www.builtrightind.com/
My dad lives there now we are clearing the place up for him we are going to unblock the drains!
I would be interested to hear more. They are 2 funny cottages now but I should think when they were new they were probably really nice
Very vintage Mold removal near me
If we are ever allowed to have a look round in the future I would love it. Good luck
They consisted essentially of a row of window repair wellington casemates, or munitions storage, surrounded by earthworks and secured by a fortified entrance.
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