My daughter and son in law have just acquired an allotment behind the Norwegian houses on the land around the Redoubt fort in Harwich and going there sparked 7 year
old Lachlan’s interest in visiting the fort – and the girls decided they’d like
to come too.
They’d spent the morning at the beach – and some of it in
the sea (the water was very warm). The lighthouse you can see is known as the Umbrella.
While Lachlan posed very seriously with the guns and
cannons at the fort, the girls posed like – well like girls!
I grew up in one of the white wooden houses – donated to Harwich
by the Norwegians after the 1953 flood and I didn’t take a single second of the
18 years I lived there for granted. My mum lived there until her death in 2003.
I often used to take a short cut round the fort and
through the allotments on my way home from school. The Harwich Society hadn’t
started restoring the fort back then and I recall one day on my way home
hearing footsteps and voices inside the fort. It was chilling.
I think that might have been the day I stopped taking the
short cut.
In my last year at primary school, when the long job of restoration had begun, we were taken into the
fort. There were no lights and we had to go down the staircase by torchlight.
It was a very dark place and I don’t mean just because of the lack of light. I
loved it. I loved being scared.
They often have events there and there's a ghost hunt coming up on 7th September. It’s the sort of chance I would have jumped
at when I was younger, but not any more. I don’t like being scared.
The atmosphere is absolutely charged. I have never been
anywhere like it. I felt it just as strongly yesterday. Fascinating place, I love it dearly, but I would never go
there alone.
The Harwich Society have done a fantastic job and it is
well worth a visit for the views alone before you even start on the exhibits. And there's the Umbrella again!
I’ve been round the Redoubt many times. My kids used to love
going when they were little and I’ve a feeling I’ll be going a lot more in the
future with this new generation, but definitely not after dark!
Lovely photos, Teresa and your description is infused with insider knowledge. Must have been a great place to grow up - right on the coast.
ReplyDeleteIt was, Pat. I spent most of my childhood on the beach x
DeleteGreat photos, Teresa.
ReplyDeleteLove the Umbrella lighthouse and the wooden houses. I didn't know about the Norwegians donating them.
xxPat
They donated two lots to our town, Pat. When I was about 5, a teacher asked me what I knew about Norway. I said nothing and she told me off and said I should as I lived in a Norwegian house. Like the teacher who said I should be able to climb a rope because my dad was a sailor :-) x
DeleteAbsolutely fascinating, Teresa, thank you. The photographs are fantastic and I loved learning all about this. I had no idea about the Norwegians donating houses. I would have loved living in one of those as a child. In fact, I would love it now. Growing up by the sea must be wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAnd what lovely grandchildren. How lucky they all are to have you showing them the history of the area and bringing it all to life. x
I would like to still be living there too, Joanna, especially on hot days :-) x
DeleteI've always thought it must be so incredibly to grow up in a place with that much history. I grew up in western Nebraska, and considering Nebraska wasn't even a state until 1867 and all the buildings in our little town were built closer to the 1880s, we're relatively new compared to Great Britain!
ReplyDeleteYour history may be more recent, but it is still very interesting, Melissa :-)
DeleteThe oldest building in our town was an ale house, the Drum & Monkey which dates back to the 1400s. And Christopher Jones, master of the Mayflower was born here and his house still stands :-) x
What a lovely post, Teresa, and the children are so cute! Love the ghostly story - hope you're going to write about it someday, and about those unique Norwegian houses (or maybe you have!).
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rosemary. Our house used to "knock". The stairs would creak as if someone was coming up them, then there'd be three sharp knocks on the bedroom door. My mum used to say it was the wood settling, but I'm not so sure!! x
DeleteI remember some years ago seeing a film on TV about the Redoubt and thinking at the time what a fascinating place it was. Lovely to get such a personal insight into it. Another wonderful post, Teresa. Thak you. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rena. It's amazing how many treasures there are around the country and how much we owe to the dedicated people who set about preserving and restoring them x
DeleteI love the sense that some places have of being infused with the spirits of the people who lived there before. Great atmospheric post, Teresa. x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lydia. There's definitely something there - I have never yet been, even on a day when it is packed with people for a fete or re-enactment without feeling a chill x
DeleteThose voices must have scared you silly Teresa. You should go on the ghost hunt,then tell us all about it. My Dad worked in the pit as an electrician, but I couldn't wire a house either.
ReplyDeleteI think I might die of fright, Susan! Love what you said about wiring a house - made me feel better about what that flipping teacher said ;-) x
DeleteHi Teresa, me again. I've left you a creative blogger over on my blog. No obligations.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you so much :-) x
DeleteGreat pics Teresa and enjoyed the info. Thank you x
ReplyDeleteIt gives me something to witter on about, Diane ;-) x
DeleteI love these photos. Your wee ones are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWhat a spooky place - but fascinating.
xx
Thanks, Suz x
DeleteI know that place so well! My mother in law lived on the brick house next to the first Norwegian houses, near the Beacon hill fort, at Barrack lane end. She married George Calver, and moved there in the 70's. Her garden backed onto the Redoubt. My kids used to make up stories about ghosts who lived in the fort. Thanks for the memories. :)
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, Glynis - I knew the Calvers well! They were lovely people. I always thought of your mother in law as Mrs Smy even after she married George - probably because I knew her from primary school. I was in the same class as Peter. Blimey, small world :-) x
Delete