Sound mirrors - can I get at 'em.

[JoeC]

I can't make the August one as got family holiday and new work shifts are due to start 1st Sept so won't know my schedule until then.

 

[Invicta Moto]

Didn't make that clear.

I didn't mean for you to ride up to Barham, just saying where I will be and when, incase we are not too far from each other.

Not to worry though. Next time.

ok

 

[Invicta Moto]

Had a ride out to Dungeness this lunchtime. Parked near the end of Derville Road and then had a walk across the shingle.

You see the 200ft mirror first. Then the other two. The smaller 20ft mirror is almost hidden from this angle by the trees growing up, but the 30 footer is clearly visible.

There doesn't seem to be any access from this side that I could see but I expect the route from the Lade Car park opposite Taylor Road takes you more to the west of the lakes and access from that side.

I took a few pics today and they can be seen on my Flickr account for anyone interested.

After the short walk across the shingle we set off to Dungeness for a coffee and millionaire's slice at the Railway Cafe. Quite a few bikes there and a lot of them Kwak customs plus one shell suit GS.

 

[Mr K]

The Sunderland one is on a more modest scale and used as a rubbish dump on some allotments.

Nearly gave up looking for it.....

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

So IM, is it worth the guided tour or better to just do what you did do you think?

 

[scottpa]

I can recommend the tour of the Romney mirrors I did it a couple of years ago. The guide was the same one as on coast. The tour went from the car park on the coast and takes a 15 min walk to get to the bridge. The guide is full of very useful information.

 

[Invicta Moto]

I'm going on the walk so you can here the expert tell you about them. Can't go next Sunday as away in Suffolk visiting relatives but am up for the September 13th walk.

Have got a few local bike mates interested too. The fish and chip shop nearby is open on Sundays but that might only be summer time, and cheaper and less formal than Pilot and Britannia.

I'm going to meet the local blokes at the Airport Cafe at Sellindge by Folkestone Racecourse at noon and ride down to much F&C then the tour!

The Sunderland one is on a more modest scale and used as a rubbish dump on some allotments.

At least it is still there. There is another between Dover and Folkestone and I might see it I can find that one too!!

 

[Invicta Moto]

I'm going to meet the local blokes at the Airport Cafe at Sellindge by Folkestone Racecourse at noon and ride down to much F&C then the tour!

Now Light Railway Cafe at noon... The one at the Hythe end of the line.

 

[smaytum]

You know those sound mirrors down at Dungie, well I was wondering if you get up close to them, or the others on the hill above Hythe.

Does anyone know or been to them?

They built two miniture ones in West Hythe here http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=hythe&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=18.441137,39.418945&ie=UTF8&ll=51.065924,1.052915&spn=0.001193,0.002406&t=h&z=19 One each side of the canal.

You can play with them... bit of a non-event though.

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

Was down thataway meself on Sun 9th...

Might try and get along for the "Mirror Walk" on the 13th, sounds interesting...

"The Prodigy" made a video around Dungeness, using the mirrors :

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9Ku6gagYh80&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9Ku6gagYh80&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

Quality.

 

[rc mad]

there's one not too far from me, looks like getting to it may be difficult, it's in a farmers field

 

[Invicta Moto]

They built two miniture ones in West Hythe here http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&s...65924,1.052915&spn=0.001193,0.002406&t=h&z=19 One each side of the canal.

You can play with them... bit of a non-event though.

They are about 400yds from my house. Put there as part of the Millenium works on the canal, dredging and the new bridge.

 

[Invicta Moto]

Had a ride out to have a look at the one on Abbot's Cliff near Capel between Folkestone and Dover.

It's easy to get to on the side of national cycle route 2, so easy that ***** like "Geoff" can carry a paint can to graffiti it.

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

Nice one 'Geoff'. I'd like to shoot the twat

 

[WindyChuffer]

What are these sound mirrors all about then? What's their purpose?

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

A listening device, either a microphone or a human, could be placed in front of the sound mirror (in just the right place) and might be able to hear the approach of enemy aircraft.

Needless to say it was soon outdated by radar and the like.

 

[smaytum]

There is some info as well.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_mirrors

 

[Invicta Moto]

There is some info as well.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_mirrors

And here. Excellent blog-style site - http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/soundmirrors/

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

The cats out of the bag now.

I have had an email today from the local IAM mob which speaks of an outing to the Denge mirrors on 13th Sept.

I cannot remember who was in the know about it, but is there a limit on numbers wit these tours?