07/07th ~ Harwich Redoubt Fort

Location: Harwich, Essex
Event Date: Saturday 7th July 2012
Event Time: 9:00pm – 3:00am
Places Available: 20
Price: £25 per person

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Deadline for Deposit option is:
28th May 2012

This impressive military location, moated and circular, Harwich Redoubt Fort was constructed in 1808 as a defence to the main harbour against the threatened invasion of the Napoleonic Navy. It was constructed to take ten 24-pounder canons of impressive firepower.

It is 200 feet in diameter, surrounded by a deep ditch and can only be entered by one removable drawbridge. It was originally armed with 10 cannon but these were upgraded in the 1860′s and 1870′s and by 1872 three 9 inch RML guns were in place. One still remains although it is thought the other two are buried in the moat.

Though difficult to imagine as it is now surrounded by houses, when the Redoubt was built it was on a hill top with free views in all directions. A house was demolished to make way for the Redoubt, and a large elm tree – used by ships as a navigational mark – was also removed.

It took three years to construct, total cost for the Fort was £55,000, a massive sum for the time and quite impressively, all built by hand.
It is said that French prisoners of war contributed to its construction.

The fort also housed a regiment of soldiers with sufficient food, water and stores with see out a lengthy siege.

It was taken over by the Harwich Society in 1969, by which time it was completely overgrown, but it has now been fully restored.

Harwich Redoubt Fort is one of those rare locations which, despite being on the ’paranormal circuit’, has not been overly investigated.

Although the fort has grown in popularity and groups that have made the trip have not been disappointed though.

Recent reports and sightings include, mysterious footsteps, apparitions seen through windows and supernatural experiences in the haunted cells.

It is reported that in 1872 when the big 12 ton cannons were being hauled into the fort a hawser broke under the strain and as it whipped back it decapitated a soldier standing nearby.

His apparition is alleged to been seen in the fort, there are different reports that sometimes he is seen headless and other times with his head under his arm!