Earlier today I drove out to Ferguson's Cove, to York Redoubt, a National Historic Site of Canada. York Redoubt was established in 1793, and was built up over the next 150 years. The redoubt was essential to harbour defense throughout both world wars before it's closure in 1956.
I hadn't been to the area in well over a year. After double checking the time the gate would close, 6pm, I headed for the caponier tunnels. I anticipated the closure of the more extensive tunnel and was correct. The far tunnel remains open. The stairs crumbled away years ago, and the tunnel is still popular with big, ugly spiders.
I circled around to the exterior wall of the sealed caponier tunnel. There, I was able to reach in and take some crude shots of the interior.
My next stop was the cliff-side cave. It's still flooded but I was able to navigate my way inside wearing only sneakers.
After leaving the cave, I made my way down the path to York Shore Battery, and the three light emplacements just beyond it. York Shore Battery is closed because many parts of it are unstable. I was sure to watch my step venturing out on a rooftop for several photos.
York Shore Battery was built for World War Two. It was armed with three guns and controlled the mines at the harbour's entrance.
I climbed down the bank to the shoreline and approached the light emplacements from below due to the unstable terrain above. The light emplacements smelled of fresh spray paint.
From the light emplacements, I walked a beaten path straight up the hill. In hindsight, I would have preferred to walk back the way I came. I didn't fall until I could see the top. The path left me backtracking considerably to return to the parking lot.
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Showing posts with label York Shore Battery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label York Shore Battery. Show all posts
21 April 2012
11 December 2010
Shoreline Erosion at York Shore Battery
While out walking earlier a few weeks ago we walked around the perimeter fence at York Shore Battery, below York Redoubt, to check things out. I hadn't been to the World War II era anti-submarine station in several months.
Not surprisingly, very little has changed at York Shore Battery since my previous visit. We did, however, notice that the erosion of the shoreline below the battery is rapidly deteriorating. Much of the reinforcements have failed.
The missing soil makes accessing the three adjacent light emplacements difficult and we didn't attempt it. You'll need to travel through the brush over unstable earth to make the trip.
York Shore Battery itself is not yet in danger of falling into the harbour. That shouldn't happen. However, the foundation of at least one of the light emplacements is being washed out on a regular basis. There will come a day when it, or they, will topple, depending on how well they're anchored to the hillside.
View York Redoubt in a larger map
Not surprisingly, very little has changed at York Shore Battery since my previous visit. We did, however, notice that the erosion of the shoreline below the battery is rapidly deteriorating. Much of the reinforcements have failed.
The missing soil makes accessing the three adjacent light emplacements difficult and we didn't attempt it. You'll need to travel through the brush over unstable earth to make the trip.
York Shore Battery itself is not yet in danger of falling into the harbour. That shouldn't happen. However, the foundation of at least one of the light emplacements is being washed out on a regular basis. There will come a day when it, or they, will topple, depending on how well they're anchored to the hillside.
View York Redoubt in a larger map
21 May 2010
Inside York Shore Battery
Yesterday while dog walking at York Redoubt we walked down to the York Shore Battery at the bottom of the cliff. The area remains closed and the roof remains very dangerous. Even though the area is fenced off, every time we've gone down there recently we've encounter others behind the enclosure.
The building with the failing roof has had it's door sealed preventing easy access. With the exception of this sealed door, all other rooms remain open.
While at York Shore Battery we noticed an watch tower filled with pigeons and observed a Canadian Coast Guard vessel leaving port. On the towers- If you're interested in climbing up there, it really isn't worth it. Broken glass, rocks and pigeon crap. All that and the roof it's situated on is failing.
Link: Canadian Coast Guard: Maritimes Region
1. The failing roof at York Shore Battery.
2. Watch tower.
3. Rusting ladder providing risky roof access.
4. Graffiti continues to pop up. Chain-link won't stop vandals.
5. Canadian Coast Guard vessel leaving port.
6. Pigeon Tower.
7. Keep Off: Structure Unsafe, Roof Might Collapse.
8. York Shore Battery
View York Redoubt in a larger map
The building with the failing roof has had it's door sealed preventing easy access. With the exception of this sealed door, all other rooms remain open.
While at York Shore Battery we noticed an watch tower filled with pigeons and observed a Canadian Coast Guard vessel leaving port. On the towers- If you're interested in climbing up there, it really isn't worth it. Broken glass, rocks and pigeon crap. All that and the roof it's situated on is failing.
Link: Canadian Coast Guard: Maritimes Region
1. The failing roof at York Shore Battery.
2. Watch tower.
3. Rusting ladder providing risky roof access.
4. Graffiti continues to pop up. Chain-link won't stop vandals.
5. Canadian Coast Guard vessel leaving port.
6. Pigeon Tower.
7. Keep Off: Structure Unsafe, Roof Might Collapse.
8. York Shore Battery
View York Redoubt in a larger map
12 May 2010
The Roof at Spion Kop (and York Shore Battery)
Earlier this evening I spent some time walking the paths at York Redoubt. While most paths lead to the harbour, or a steep cliff overlooking it. One of the last paths walked lead us to a well established party spot complete with a log-bench and well-used fire pit built of small stones.
We walked as far as Spion Kop and than back down through the unmarked footpaths to York Shore Battery. Along the way took interest in one of the concrete foundations. Like many of the other foundations around York Redoubt, the upper level has been removed leaving a sealed foundation. This particular foundation had a large hole permitting a good view of its interior. The ceiling has collapsed and the room is slowing being filled with scrap wood.
York Shore Battery remains closed to the public. It may only be a matter of time before some of the roofs collapse down into the battery. I don't recommend spending much, if any, time on the rooftops at York Shore Battery.
1. On the rooftop at Spion Kop.
2. Base Command Post from Spion Kop.
3. The path leading to Spion Kop.
4. Unknown foundation on road to York Shore Battery.
5. Inside the unknown foundation.
6. Just across the road from the unknown foundation is a second, larger, unknown foundation.
I believe this one is accessible through an open door.
7. Left to right: York Shore Battery's searchlight emplacements (Searchlights #690, #691 and #692), Georges Island, the community of Eastern Passage, and McNabs Island.
We walked as far as Spion Kop and than back down through the unmarked footpaths to York Shore Battery. Along the way took interest in one of the concrete foundations. Like many of the other foundations around York Redoubt, the upper level has been removed leaving a sealed foundation. This particular foundation had a large hole permitting a good view of its interior. The ceiling has collapsed and the room is slowing being filled with scrap wood.
York Shore Battery remains closed to the public. It may only be a matter of time before some of the roofs collapse down into the battery. I don't recommend spending much, if any, time on the rooftops at York Shore Battery.
1. On the rooftop at Spion Kop.
2. Base Command Post from Spion Kop.
3. The path leading to Spion Kop.
4. Unknown foundation on road to York Shore Battery.
5. Inside the unknown foundation.
6. Just across the road from the unknown foundation is a second, larger, unknown foundation.
I believe this one is accessible through an open door.
7. Left to right: York Shore Battery's searchlight emplacements (Searchlights #690, #691 and #692), Georges Island, the community of Eastern Passage, and McNabs Island.
20 March 2010
York Shore Battery
Today I had an opportunity to visit York Shore Battery (below York Redoubt) in Ferguson's Cove just outside Halifax. It was my first trip to York Redoubt and York Shore Battery since April 20, 2009.
View Halifax Defence Complex in a larger map
The last time I was at York Shore Battery there wasn't a chain-link fence surrounding it. A fence was built to restrict access due to potential roof collapse of the abandoned battery's buildings. Normally, I'd be skeptical of the signage and climb around on the roofs anyway, and I did, but in doing so I've determined that those signs are definitely there for a reason. The roofs, or at least sections of them, appear ready to fall.
If you decide to circumvent the fence, watch your step in there. Between the failing roofs, loose gravel and broken glass there are plenty of hazards to potentially encounter.
1. Approaching York Shore Battery, you'll encounter this fence and its signage.
2.
3. A former entrance to the battery's largest building. Doorway has been bricked to prevent entry.
4. The majority of the buildings remain open and accessible.
5. Watch Tower
6. Directly beneath the watch tower.
7. A small sample of the graffiti found at York Shore Battery.
8. A rare self photo from inside the sealed building from photo #3.
9. The battery's searchlight emplacements... and a landslide.
10. Across the landslide, closer to the light emplacements (Searchlights #690, #691 and #692) looking back toward my location in photo #9.
11. Returning from the light emplacements, on top of the wall, level with the watch tower.
12. Climbing down the wall returning from the light emplacements through a wooded path, still on top of the wall.
13. On the rocky shoreline below York Shore Battery looking up at the new fence.
View Halifax Defence Complex in a larger map
The last time I was at York Shore Battery there wasn't a chain-link fence surrounding it. A fence was built to restrict access due to potential roof collapse of the abandoned battery's buildings. Normally, I'd be skeptical of the signage and climb around on the roofs anyway, and I did, but in doing so I've determined that those signs are definitely there for a reason. The roofs, or at least sections of them, appear ready to fall.
If you decide to circumvent the fence, watch your step in there. Between the failing roofs, loose gravel and broken glass there are plenty of hazards to potentially encounter.
1. Approaching York Shore Battery, you'll encounter this fence and its signage.
2.
3. A former entrance to the battery's largest building. Doorway has been bricked to prevent entry.
4. The majority of the buildings remain open and accessible.
5. Watch Tower
6. Directly beneath the watch tower.
7. A small sample of the graffiti found at York Shore Battery.
8. A rare self photo from inside the sealed building from photo #3.
9. The battery's searchlight emplacements... and a landslide.
10. Across the landslide, closer to the light emplacements (Searchlights #690, #691 and #692) looking back toward my location in photo #9.
11. Returning from the light emplacements, on top of the wall, level with the watch tower.
12. Climbing down the wall returning from the light emplacements through a wooded path, still on top of the wall.
13. On the rocky shoreline below York Shore Battery looking up at the new fence.
20 April 2009
York Shore Battery - April 2009
A few of us walked down to York Shore Battery, below York Redoubt.
View Halifax Defence Complex in a larger map
Brought a camera...
1.
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5.
View Halifax Defence Complex in a larger map
Brought a camera...
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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