Tom Morgan Posted 19 August , 2003 Share Posted 19 August , 2003 Somewhere on the East coast of Britain I understand there were huge, concave dishes, rather like today's satellite dishes, but either carved into cliff-sides or built of concrete on the top of the cliff. The idea was that they would concentrate sound-waves by bouncing them to a central point where they would pass down a central tube ultimately connected to a set of stethoscope ear-pieces. A listener could then hear the sound of hostile airships while they were still miles away and normally out of earshot. Can anyone tell me more about these dishes? I'd specially like to know if anything like this still exists and if so, where. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Lee Posted 19 August , 2003 Share Posted 19 August , 2003 Tom This is straight from the top of my head and may be wrong but I seem to remember reading that one of these walls was at Shornecliffe. I will try to see if I can find the actual reference and let you know if I am correct on the location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Lee Posted 19 August , 2003 Share Posted 19 August , 2003 Tom Further to my message have a look at listening walls I hope it is relevant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 19 August , 2003 Share Posted 19 August , 2003 Tom, Not at home at present but I have a book with some info and pictures of these dishes and will post when I can. I seem to remember Redcar on the Tees Bay and close to Scarborough were given as a couple of locations and I think one or two are still in position. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 19 August , 2003 Share Posted 19 August , 2003 Tom They were known as acoustic mirrors. Locations can be found by clicking here:Early warning mirrors Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 19 August , 2003 Share Posted 19 August , 2003 Listening Walls at Romney Marches near Greatstone are not for the faint hearted. Finding them is almost impossible, they actually lie between Lydd airport and the holiday camp at Greatstone on the B2071 out of New Romney. The walls were early experiments with concrete structures, shaped rather like satellite dishes, they were supposed to hear the sound of approaching enemy aircraft. They didn't, radar did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 20 August , 2003 Author Share Posted 20 August , 2003 Thanks, everyone, for the wealth of information. Yet another example of the knowledge and generosity of forum members. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Birch Posted 20 August , 2003 Share Posted 20 August , 2003 Tom You can clearly one of these dishes sitting on the hillside to the north from the A259 on the west side of Hythe where it passes the Army Firing Ranges. My understanding, however, is that these were built in the 1930's just before the introduction of radar. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyem1 Posted 20 August , 2003 Share Posted 20 August , 2003 Tom Search this site, they have pictures and location. http://www.castlekas.freeserve.co.uk/home.htm. gary click on coastal defences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 20 August , 2003 Author Share Posted 20 August , 2003 Thanks, Gary - "Sound Mirrors" and more there. I'll be able to have a look at some of these next time I'm in Dover with some time off. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 20 August , 2003 Share Posted 20 August , 2003 Tom, "Sound Mirrors" were developed by the Munitions Inventions Department, some had "side wings" to reduce interference to the listener positioned in front. The bearing and altitude of incoming raiders could be determined by the use of the sound collector connected to a system of quadrant pointers which were moved over the surface of the concrete "mirror". In the North WW1 examples can still be seen at Redcar, Boulby, Kilnsea and Sunderland. The Redcar structure now being Grade 2 listed. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Morgan Posted 20 August , 2003 Author Share Posted 20 August , 2003 Thanks, Bob. The original picture I remember seeing somewhere in the past showed what looked like a dish carved out of natural rock in a cliff somewhere and with a listener in position. But although no reference to this kind of dish has shown up, I have more info about the location of others than I could have hoped for. Thanks again - Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 20 August , 2003 Share Posted 20 August , 2003 Tom There are a couple of photos of listeners at their post on this site: http://www.autogena.org/mirrors/a.html# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 20 August , 2003 Share Posted 20 August , 2003 Tom, The info I have only shows "man made" structures, no doubt someone will come up with details of what you describe carved out of rock and cliff faces. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 21 August , 2003 Share Posted 21 August , 2003 Tom Further to my last post. One pic on the acoustic technology page is dated c1913 on the Kent coast it looks like it could be a cliff face one? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
182 CEF Posted 15 September , 2003 Share Posted 15 September , 2003 WOW!! I have never heard of this!! It is amazing the things you learn about because someone asks a question. I wonder how many other "little known" items are out there that most of us don't know about!! Dean Owen Whitby Ont Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pete Wood Posted 15 September , 2003 Share Posted 15 September , 2003 Did you know that each post was also manned, at the beginning of its life anyway, by a blind man. The blind man was supposed to have a heightened sense of hearing. These listening posts worked best when small numbers of enemy aeroplanes were involved, flying in close formation. If the enemy cam across in a large formation (the largest formation was aorund 24 aeroplanes), then the noise was too confusing to give accurate results. Just as the 'listeners' got used to the difference between two Gotha bombers, and one Zeppelin, the Germans started to use the 'Giant' bombers and this caused yet more confusion...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john w. Posted 15 September , 2003 Share Posted 15 September , 2003 Have just spent a glorious half hour or so looking at this thread and the links... a true example of the wealth of info here.. Had no idea that they existed.. thanks for that.. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterd Posted 16 September , 2003 Share Posted 16 September , 2003 Tom, "Sound Mirrors" were developed by the Munitions Inventions Department, some had "side wings" to reduce interference to the listener positioned in front. The bearing and altitude of incoming raiders could be determined by the use of the sound collector connected to a system of quadrant pointers which were moved over the surface of the concrete "mirror". In the North WW1 examples can still be seen at Redcar, Boulby, Kilnsea and Sunderland. The Redcar structure now being Grade 2 listed. Bob. In the North WW1 examples can still be seen at Redcar, Boulby, Kilnsea and Sunderland. Any idea where this was located in Sunderland. I will go and visit the site and post picture if still there. Peterd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 16 September , 2003 Share Posted 16 September , 2003 Peterd, According to my book the Sunderland mirror is North of the Fulwell windmill on Carley Hill. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterd Posted 21 September , 2003 Share Posted 21 September , 2003 After hunting through the undergrowth I found the devil behind a set of allotment gardens to the rear of Fulwell Mill. It stands about 8 feet high, with sidewalls and faces out to sea. See picture below. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 21 September , 2003 Share Posted 21 September , 2003 Peterd, Glad you got your photo. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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