The Roberts Battery Tunnel. Seaton Sluice
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 01. 2022
- Having heard about the access tunnel, we decided to scope it out. The opening is tricky to spot but it's worth it when you find it and squeeze inside.
I researched the history afterwards and am now keen to head back to try and access the rooms beyond.
I have added a few old photos at the end of the video so you can see what it was once like.
Roberts Battery
The Roberts Battery was situated about 500 yards south of the Watch House Museum on Rocky Island, and north of The Delaval Arms, close to Crag Point, and was built in response to the threat of bombardment of Tyneside in World War 1.
At first, Tyneside was protected by an old battleship, permanently based on the river as a guardship, but in 1916 the ship was needed elsewhere. As an alternative, the Army was offered a redundant gun turret, from the 1898 HMS Illustrious, for emplacement on land.
The battery had two transmitting cells and two receiving cells, one each to the north and south of the battery, and a Barr and Stroud split image range finder in a range finding post. Extensive underground works were constructed including shell and cartridge stores, engine room, etc. and these were still visible in the early 1960s. On the surface of these works were 12 inch guns and a blockhouse. The concrete plinths for these guns and the blockhouse were also still visible in the early 1960s. Sadly these features are no longer visible. A 30ft Barr and Stroud post was the Battery Command post and had officers' accommodation attached and now survives as a private house (Fort House).
The underground installation contained storage for the shells and a shelter for about 20 men, whilst the surface installation included barrack huts latrines, cookhouse, bathhouse, and boiler house. Still visible today are the Water Tower, the Defensible Latrine, and the Officers’ Quarters. A further battery, the Kitchener Battery, was built at Marsden, and they were both controlled from a command centre behind the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth.
However, the battery wasn’t completed until September 1921, at a cost of £64,000, and consequently the guns were never fired in anger, although they fired twelve test rounds on 5th September 1922 (apparently blowing the pantiles off the local cottages).
In 1924 the Committee of Imperial Defence recommended removal of the turrets, probably because the guns were obsolete, and work was underway in April 1926.
A Chain Home Low radar station was established on the site of Hartley Battery in World War II (1939-1945). The underground works represent one of the largest military engineering projects of their day. Fort House, the boundary wall and outbuildings are Grade II* Listed Buildings protected by law.
The underground structure is basically intact, and the outline can be seen on aerial photographs, but access is “impossible”, since it was filed in with domestic rubbish by Whitley Bay Council in the 1960s. Impossible is in "", as people have recently been in and posted video.
I fished that coast line for 50 yrs and never heard of are seen it
Great piece of history. Well done.
Thanks Ian.
We'll have to head back @TheTooncat1 .. we can scramble through to the rooms beyond.
Excellent video and research. Used to go in that tunnel in the 1970's as a kid, before the cliff collapse. We knew it served the gun in the field above, but never knew what it was used for. The plans in the video clearly show it as a drainage tunnel, which totally makes sense. It would be great to see access opened up from above, and the rooms cleared out!
Thanks for your kind comments. I agree, it would be amazing to open the place up.. a real piece of history.
Well done 👍 solved a mystery that's been bugging me for years I ve walked over it countless times and never knew where the Roberts Bat was exactly , Cheers
Thanks for taking time to comment. Very much appreciated.
Happy adventuring if you decide to head down and through the tunnel.
I swim weekly at Seaton sluice, I'll check this out next time 👌 thanks
Nice one. You'll need a torch 🔦
Hope you find it
Theres old folklore about ancient tunnels all over the northeast coastlines
You are right. Would be great to have them opened up to explore.
Thanks for your comment
I was only young when we frequently visit Seaton Sluice ,this would be the sand dunes though .I remember concrete tank stops / bunkers on the sands ( I think ).I think there was a caravan site at Old Hartley ,maybe this was on top of rocky outcrops ??
I don't think the campsite is still there. There are caravans on the other side of the bay though.
Thank you for taking time to comment 😊
That was a cool urban explore that 👍 you would never know from a quick glance from the sea shore! Enjoyed and Subbed👍 best regards Simon 👍
Very much appreciated and a sub for you too 😊
@@adventure5571 thanks 🙏🏼 and appreciated best regards Simon 👍
Great video thanks
Thanks for taking time to comment. Glad you liked it
@@adventure5571 no problem I’ love the Sluice but wasn’t aware of the battery there so thanks for giving us a look
Scary stuff 😂
interesting, I've been down on that beach many times but never knew about this
Thanks for commenting. If you get back down to explore the place, I hope you enjoy it.
Im currently trying to find the entrance to this
Cool place that plus local think il go for look myself
Wow had no idea lol
Well worth a visit if you get the chance.
Thanks for taking time to comment
Treat yourself to a mini adventure and head down 😁
Thank you for taking time to comment
You need to go back, I think the rouble has been moved out and you can get in the other rooms now
That's good to know. Thank you.
I have a free day tomorrow so I'll head over.
Much appreciated
Love the old photos, me and my mate just stumbled across it and assumed it was a pit wash out or something, so interesting