Wonder how much they could actually achieve though? It's not like they're a regular tourist-trap. "The Maunsell Forts are a series of armed towers in the Thames Estuary that operated as army and navy bases from 1942 to protect London from sea and air strikes. Since being decommissioned in the 1950s they have largely been left in a state of disrepair. But new plans have been unveiled to investigate how to prevent them from being lost forever. Leading structural engineering firm Structural Repairs has begun inspecting the forts to see how they may one day be restored to their former glory and brought into public use." www.heritagedaily.com/2021/09/restoring-the-abandoned-maunsell-sea-forts/141398
You may be right about the lack of tourist traffic, but their restoration seems to be more than that. Too many pieces of the past are being lost. There seems not to be much reverence for them. We are quick to replace them or let them molder. It's not only in Britain, but in the US and other places. Obviously we can't restore all of them, but targeted preservation might be the way to go.
Absolutely agree, but in a salt air environment I can't help feeling these would turn out to be money pits, regardless to their importance. Would like to see them used in some way, even if someone buys them and declares themselves independent.
....a lot of people couldn't care less about historic places--especially if government $$$ are involved.......looks like it would take mucho $$$ to restore, preserve, etc these forts
They could do what they did in San Diego, the navy turned over a large portion of their base in San Diego many of the barracks and quarters were torn down and whole neighborhoods were built the old navy base offices was gutted the outer shell preserved and the inside is now a shopping mall, bunches of shops and businesses they could possibly do the same save the outer shell and make the insides shops restaurants offices and museums. In Hawaii on Oahu they have preserved part of an old fort they have one of the gun platforms and part of the tunnel system. I thought it was pretty kewl and a map showing all the bases on the island at the time, it was crazy the map pretty much showed that almost half the island was occupied by the military and I think it said over a million men at one time were stationed on the island at one point during build ups for amphibious operations and training etc. I think if they plan it right they could make it a tourist place of interest and shopping. Guess we'll just have to see what they come up with but restoration of actual defense stations with the guns would be a great point of interest to any war buff.
Gibraltar would also be Interesting. I read the axis forces included bombs among the artillery shells that were sent there?!! Don't know how much they show to tourists though.
