Visited with @Garou Garou , Derailed, Wildling, Tig and Tig’s girlfriend.
I have taken my time writing this report, as I initially decided not to, after one of the men who showed us around complained about ’28 Days Later people trying to get in’. What I don’t want to do though is cause a load of bother for the airsoft guys, so I’m hoping this won’t trigger too many people to go over there. If you do go, then maybe have a game
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Fort Southwick is one of five Victorian Forts known as the Palmerston Forts along the top of Portsdown Hill. During WW2 an underground headquarters was built beneath Fort Southwick and on D-Day the headquarters was used to gather information and coordinate with the Allied naval forces. Radar was used to gather spatial data of activity in the Channel, which was then plotted on a large table map in the subterranean map room. On the 6 June 1944 there were 700 staff working underground. Military operations at the fort ceased in 2002, and the fort was sold to a private company in 2003 (http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/palmerston_forts/fort_southwick/1_overview_p1.html).
When I searched for the online to see if official visits were a possibility, the first thing I came across was a paranormal website, which listed the fort as one of their sites for paranormal events… I rung them up and spoke to a lovely woman (if a bit crazy on all the ghost stuff), who told me that if I wanted to get in I should go and find the door in the hillside, give it a really loud bang, and ask for Fred (name changed to protect identity). So the next day, the group of us drove over to Portsdown Hill and did just that.
After MUCH banging, and some amount of shouting, no-one seemed to have heard us. We were close to giving up when, eventually, some men in airsoft gear appeared. They seemed surprised to see us outside, suggesting that the place is pretty sound proof. We identified ‘Fred’, who told us that it was a bit dangerous at present, but if we came back after their game we could have a look around! We came back an hour later, feeling very excited. I had been expecting the men to take us around quickly and shove us out again, but they were brilliant! They came around with us, I think out of interest and to have a chat, but really we were let loose on the place. As we headed back to the exit, the men were getting increasingly excited taking about softball, and started getting the explosives out! Deafening!!!
Photos below....
Map room....
Map room again....
I have taken my time writing this report, as I initially decided not to, after one of the men who showed us around complained about ’28 Days Later people trying to get in’. What I don’t want to do though is cause a load of bother for the airsoft guys, so I’m hoping this won’t trigger too many people to go over there. If you do go, then maybe have a game
.Fort Southwick is one of five Victorian Forts known as the Palmerston Forts along the top of Portsdown Hill. During WW2 an underground headquarters was built beneath Fort Southwick and on D-Day the headquarters was used to gather information and coordinate with the Allied naval forces. Radar was used to gather spatial data of activity in the Channel, which was then plotted on a large table map in the subterranean map room. On the 6 June 1944 there were 700 staff working underground. Military operations at the fort ceased in 2002, and the fort was sold to a private company in 2003 (http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/palmerston_forts/fort_southwick/1_overview_p1.html).
When I searched for the online to see if official visits were a possibility, the first thing I came across was a paranormal website, which listed the fort as one of their sites for paranormal events… I rung them up and spoke to a lovely woman (if a bit crazy on all the ghost stuff), who told me that if I wanted to get in I should go and find the door in the hillside, give it a really loud bang, and ask for Fred (name changed to protect identity). So the next day, the group of us drove over to Portsdown Hill and did just that.
After MUCH banging, and some amount of shouting, no-one seemed to have heard us. We were close to giving up when, eventually, some men in airsoft gear appeared. They seemed surprised to see us outside, suggesting that the place is pretty sound proof. We identified ‘Fred’, who told us that it was a bit dangerous at present, but if we came back after their game we could have a look around! We came back an hour later, feeling very excited. I had been expecting the men to take us around quickly and shove us out again, but they were brilliant! They came around with us, I think out of interest and to have a chat, but really we were let loose on the place. As we headed back to the exit, the men were getting increasingly excited taking about softball, and started getting the explosives out! Deafening!!!
Photos below....
Map room....
Map room again....
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