Comments for UK Shore Blog

Comment on History of the Goodwin Sands by Mike

Mike — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:06:26 +0000

Earl Godwin gave his name to the sandbanks off the Kent coastline which came to be called the Goodwin Sands.

Comment on History of the Goodwin Sands by Phil Hughes

Phil Hughes — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:36:33 +0000

There are a number of explanations to how the sands got their name, one being it was land belonging to Earl Godwin who was involved in a dispute with royalty and the land was flooded by storms never to recover. I have a copy of the book “Heroes of the Goodwin Sands” handed down through the family. My wife’s ancestor was Henry (Harry) Belsey who was a crew member on the Ramsgate Lifeboat which went to the famous “Indian Chief” rescue.
Phil Hughes.

Comment on History of the Goodwin Sands by Ted Goodwin

Ted Goodwin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:04:25 +0000

Does anyone know how or why the Goodwin Sands got its name?
If you know please e-mail tedgoodwin@bellsouth.net.

Comment on BBC Nature – video collections website by British Coast Cottages

British Coast Cottages — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:38:22 +0000

Really useful page for all the videos of BBCs coast videos. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Comment on Martello Towers of the East Coast by JANE LOGAN

JANE LOGAN — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:45:20 +0000

I have a watercolour of a martello tower purchased by my mother in a junk shop before the war, and wonder if you might be able to identify it for me. I don’t seem to be able to attach a photograph to this message, but obviously would be able to attach it to an e-mail

Comment on National Trust Spring bonus by Baby Photography Manchester

Baby Photography Manchester — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:39:41 +0000

I hope that they will be doing this again in 2012? It was a great success.

Comment on History of the Goodwin Sands by Alistair Kerr

Alistair Kerr — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 01:54:05 +0000

I was a Junior Ordinary Seaman in the TSS Fordsdale on a voyage from Auckland new Zealand to London. On Christmas Eve, 1946, we anchored off Dover or thereabouts because of thick fog. I was on duty on the bridge when we saw this Victory ship flying past us at full speed. The Pilot said, “He’s heading up to Hamburg and carries no pilot.” Next morning, Christmas Day, 1946, we weighed anchor and headed for London. We saw this ship, which turned out to be the North Eastern Victory hard and fast on the Goodwins, broken in two just forrad of the bridge.

Comment on History of the Goodwin Sands by Alvin Dana

Alvin Dana — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:36:58 +0000

Greetings from Australia!

I am researching the family genealogy and am hoping to get more information on an ancestor who was claimed to be in a ship disaster off Goodwin Sands.

He was Captain John Magness of the Brig “HOPE” who lost his life on 12 February 1869.

Your kind assistance is much appreciated.

Warmest regards,

Alvin

Comment on The Martello Towers of the Kent and Sussex Coast by Mark

Mark — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:54:17 +0000

Mike on 16th June 2010 posted the correct locations for the Martello’s in Pevensey Bay. He is correct as to the numbering too. So the map here still leaves out tower 61 which is located in Millward Road, running between Timberlaine Road and Grenville Road. This tower was used by the Canadian Army in WWII and still has its additional two floors dating from 1940, it is now a private and well maintained residence.

For the record the myth about an adjacent Tower being destroyed by German fire in WWII is just that, a myth! A combination of 19th century post Napoleonic Bitish navy target practise and costal errosion is what ended its life!

Comment on The Martello Towers of the Kent and Sussex Coast by John Vaughan

John Vaughan — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:20:57 +0000

There are some interesting facts / plans / document transcriptions regarding the Sussex towers on the Sussex History Forum (only just started) and the Kent ones on, oddly enough, Kent History Forum (long established!)

http://www.sussexhistoryforum.co.uk

http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk