Posts Tagged ‘Denge’

Model sound mirror for aerial wargaming

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

Kent-based science fiction and fantasy gaming supplier Brigade Models is producing some 1/1200 models inspired by the Denge sound mirrors.

They are designed for Aeronef, a form of wargaming based on “an alternate history in the late 19th Century when the aircraft has been invented several decades earlier than the Wright Brothers actually managed. The nations and empires of the world battle for supremacy of the skies in giant aerial ships known as Aeronefs, lighter-than-air dirigibles (‘Digs’) and small fighter and bomber aircraft.”

Brigade Models sound mirrors

Tony Francis of Brigade Models tells me that while the models are based on the Denge sound mirrors they are are not exact replicas; he worked from photos and satellite images to produce something that looked roughly right. “Although they are really First World War technology rather than late 19th century, we’ve appropriated them as being ideal for our Victorian science-fiction alternate history games”, he explains.

The 200 ft mirror comes out at about 50 mm long, while the two small ‘ears’ are about 10 mm. They are produced in pewter from masters which were created using a 3D modelling package and 3D printing.

For more details of availability and how to order, see the Brigade Models website.

Popular beat combos at the Denge sound mirrors

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Rock Atlas book front cover

The Denge sound mirrors have proved to be a popular location for music videos and associated photo shoots, and are included in a new book called Rock Atlas, by David Roberts.

The author has got in touch to tell me that: The 304-page, full-colour guide book includes 689 fascinating British and Irish music locations and the stories behind them. Written and researched by former Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums editor David Roberts, the book provides instructions on how to find each place of Rock and Pop pilgrimage, plus extensive lists of the birthplaces of every major musician.

The sound mirrors entry says:

The Dungeness coastal landscape is shaped by the strange architectural splendour of the sound mirrors that are featured as cover artwork on Turin Brakes’ Ether Song album and hit single ‘Long Distance’. Constructed as a Royal Air Force early warning system for incoming aircraft, the Denge mirrors are often referred to as ‘Listening Ears’ and have also featured in The Prodigy video for ‘Invaders Must Die’ and Blank & Jones‘ Monument album cover and video for ‘A Forest’.

LOCATION 147: between Lydd-on-Sea and Greatstone-on-Sea. Postcode: TN29 9NL. Access with guided walks. www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/soundmirrors

Last chance to visit the Denge mirrors in 2011

Friday, September 9th, 2011

This year’s final RMCP guided walk to the Denge mirrors is on Sunday 11 September 2011 at 14:00.

2011 guided walks to the Denge sound mirrors

Saturday, April 16th, 2011

Planned dates for public access to the Denge sound mirrors in 2011 have been announced on the Notice Board section of the Romney Marsh Countryside Project website.

There is one open day this year, and two guided walks. These events don’t need to be booked and are free, but rely on donations to cover the costs with at least £2 per person suggested.

  • Open day 10:00-17:00 Sunday 24 July 2011
  • Guided walk 14:00 Sunday 21 August 2011
  • Guided walk 14:00 Sunday 11 September 2011

More information at the RMCP website. Anyone planning to attend these events should obviously confirm details with the RMCP before travelling.

Remember, the RMCP events are the only way to visit the Denge mirrors. The walks are very popular, and well worth doing.

Listing campaign in 1993

Sunday, October 17th, 2010

“Listing of sound mirrors urged: Oliver Gillie reports on the pre-radar detection devices that enthusiasts want to see preserved” from the Independent on 3 July 1993.

HUGE CONCRETE sound mirrors used before the days of radar to listen for the approach of hostile aircraft should be scheduled as national monuments, according to enthusiasts. Already several have been demolished …

Denge sound mirrors in 1998

Sunday, October 10th, 2010

Denge Sound Mirrors - 1998

Anyway I visited the mirrors to take some photos a few times around 1997 and 1998. At the time they were almost totally forgotten about and in the middle of an active gravel pit. The large 200 foot sound wall was very close to falling into the pit and disappearing forever. It was such a strange an eerie place…[More...]

Dungeness walk

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

Sound and Vision at Walking Class Hero: These other worldy concrete structures are the remains of part of an acoustic early warning system that was designed to detect engine sounds from approaching aircraft. ‘Staccato signals of constant information‘ as Paul Simon sings from another time

Another very popular walk, it seems: I stopped estimating at 150.

White rabbit at Denge

Tuesday, August 10th, 2010

Follow the white rabbit: Today we went to see the Sound Mirrors at Denge

Denge open day pictures

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Lots of good pictures are appearing on Flickr after the 18 July 2010 open day at the Denge sound mirrors (click to see Richard Fisher’s picture in full):

Denge Mirrors_1460

Feel free you add your photos to the Sound Mirrors Pool.

Photos of 2004 Denge sound mirror guided walk

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Hywel Williams took some photographs on a guided walk to the Denge sound mirrors on 4 August 2004: Denge Sound Mirrors – “The Listening Ears”.

I could hear the little steam train pass across in front of me off the sound mirror, GREATLY magnified in sound and apparently in the mirror direction it was traveling. Clearly not a demonstration of aeroplane detection, but also a clear demonstration that these concrete mirrors still work, nearly 80 years after their experimental construction!

Ooo, I’m in one of the photos!

Hywel also has a rather good site about Disused stations on London’s Underground.