Abandoned HMS Ganges, Shotley Gate, Suffolk. Naval Training Base.
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- #HMSGanges #Shotley #Suffolk
HMS GANGES.
The Royal Naval training establishment at Shotley known as HMS Ganges was established in 1905 to prepare school leaving boys for naval service.
It had a reputation for it's tough and brutal at times methods of training where the boys that went in marched out as men.
It is particularly famous for its 44 m high mast taken from an old Naval boat, we're all boys during training where required to ascend during mast manning ceremonies.
Having seen around 160,000 boys through its gate it was eventually closed in 1976 went for some time during the 1980s and 90s its was used as a residential centre for civilian police officers to complete their basic training but since their departure the site which had already been largely demolished over the decades sits abandoned with the future of the remaining buildings uncertain.
For more old footage from HMS Ganges please take a look at this fascinating video;
• Young 'salts' Man The ...
We hope you enjoyed our little video.
If you would like to help our channel continue to grow and improve by making a small donation or become a Patreon please take a look at our links, we would be incredibly grateful. Kind regards Em and Stu 😊
/ exploringwithemandstu
ko-fi.com/expl...
www.buymeacoff...
Well done to you both! That has brought back memories.
I first heard about HMS Ganges from an old chap that I worked with at BT in the 1980's. His name was Jim and he did his Royal Navy training there. As he was small in stature, he was actually the 'Button Boy' the lad that climbed to the top of the mast. He subsequently went on to the SBS and was at Normany on D-Day.
Next time was around that period when a few of my workmates and I went to Delta Firearms where you could for a fee rent a gun. You bought the ammunition and targets and then went to one of the ranges. The level of trust was immense as there was nothing to stop you going off site with a weapon and ammunition! Some of the guys that I worked with had their own weapons. We had a range of handguns and a Spas automatic shotgun. We had an enjoyable day out and as we were about to leave, heard a lot of firing coming from another range. We went in and found a gun magazine were there testing numerous weapons. They let us fire a few. One that stuck in my mind was a silenced Uzi!
A couple of years later, I was there from January to April 1988 as an Essex Police Officer doing my basic training. We couldn't use the pool at first as there was a lot of glass in the pool from when parts of the roof collapsed in the 1987 hurricane. The large accommodation block adjacent to the parade ground, facing the mast was mainly occupied by WPC's. ( Fraternisation was severely frowned upon!) I was in a block past the pool and to the left. We all had our own room which contained a wash basin. There was a large room with enormous tables for ironing and a room with a communal tv and a pool table. Most evenings after the tv was off and we'd finished our ironing, we'd sit in the corridor (the corridor club) bulling our boots for the inspection the following morning.There were communal washrooms across the road outside which had really deep baths. It was nice to have a long soak in one after the regular timed runs outside the camp, of which we had three a week. I used to run every night as well, being an older entrant, I didn't want to bring up the rear! Getting back early from a run gave you first choice at a bath.
A couple of years later, Shotley closed for Police Training due to the plans for the housing estate. However, by this time I was a Level 2 trained Officer and we used to go there for public order training, (when we didn't go to Hounslow) using some of the derelict buildings.
I recall it being cold there and on at least one occasion we were sent home early due to a high tide encroaching on the road leading to Shotley.
I am surprised it hasn't been built upon, but even more surprised to see how derelict it has become. The mast being allowed to deteriorate is scandalous as it is a Grade 2 listed monument.
I think the training schools for Police Officers were a good idea. In the type of environment you were constantly being observed (for 14 weeks then). It was hard to display racist, sexist or offensive behaviour without someone doing something about it. Now, in this time of distance learning packages we have Police Officers that shouldn't be in the job.
This place was brilliant such ashame to see it in this state we wish it could of been saved in some way but unfortunately its to bad.... We can see why it was a police training school the place had it all..... There's more glass in the pool these days lol.... Its interesting to know you was there too as we always like to hear the history about the places we visit we hold these places in a good respect and treat every place as if it was our own... We are very happy you enjoyed our video 😊
Fascinating stuff, it's definitely one of those "if only the walls could talk" places. Thanks guys.
Thank you for watching and we both say the same thing 👍👍😊😊
So happy to see you two out and about. Brilliant explore. Thank you!
Hello nice to be back with all of you to 😊
Be interesting to hear from any recruits who trained here. The father of a schoolfriend was, I believe, in charge here in the early 70's. His name, Captain Penfold RN. It would have been considerably more ship-shape back then, once again so gutting to see our military and naval heritage being discarded like this, considering the proud history. Thanks for the tour and the video Em and Stu. Keep em coming.
Thank you and yes it is a shame but soon this place will be gone so its really Important for us to get the history and footage for the archive to look back and know what it was once.... Really nice for you to comment... And the information you gave us thank you 😊👍
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu In 1970/1 Captain M. Button R.N. was in charge.
We will look in to more history thank you
My great uncle Percy Bembridge trained here, after completing his training he was stationed on HMS hood. I believe he wasn't on the boat long before the Bismarck sank it. He was only 18. Puts life into perspective... www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/b/BembridgePA.htm
@@reloadedrussty10 wow this what you shared is greatly greatful... What a proud bit of history you have... Again like we have said before so many times this is exactly why we do this we love history and we appreciate these places... Thank you for your comments we appreciate your added history 😊👍
Thank you both, well done, Em and Stu! I especially like the swimming pool. I used it most weeks when at Shotley Primary School, not with the school though. I was there in the early '70s. Happy menories. I intend to fly the site with my drone as soon as I can get back there - I'm currently caring for my Mother, who has dementia :(
Edit; I'll never forget the diving board. It terrified me and I only jumped off it because a "friend" Peter Walsh told be my pass would be removed if I climbed down again!
Sorry to hear about your mother and it great that you are caring for her.
Yes the place was amazing and it fantastic you have good memories
Fantastic exploration and video,great to see you back together out again creating great content for everyone 👍🏻
Thank you really pleased to be back and have ppl like you watching thank you 👍😊
I joined 1962 at the tender age of 15, Spent one year training, and for me it wasn't a happy time time. Brutal to the point of bullying. Mast was originally from the Corvette HMS Cordelia and has now been replaced as it was protected. The land is now under development for housing. Shame seeing this video and how the old "Stone Frigate" has been allowed to sink into disrepair. Life goes on and memories of good and bad live on .
Yes unfortunately we've heard alot of people's past experiences of Ganges wasn't always very positive and many of them just young boys really.. We've seen the restored mast and they have at least done a good job preserving it.. like you say its slowly all being turned into houses, hopefully they'll save at least some of the original buildings as they are quite fascinating and a big part of Shotleys history.. Thanks for watching and sharing your memories with us. 👍
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu Another interesting fact is.One boy fell from the mast in1928 , 15 year old seaman Alfred Hickman died. Before the shore base was used the ship HMS Ganges was used as a training ship 53 boys died between 1866-1899.
I served at Ganges in 1975 not much left now! Thanks was good to revisit the place.
Shame they've demolished so much and alot more to go in the very near future.. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment 🙂 👍
was there 1958/59. I was in the navy swimming team and did quite a few lengths in that pool, through the years. The old diving platform has gone and the deep end isn't as deep. Wonderful memories.
That's great that you have watched our video thank you...we are happy to help you with your memories 😀
Really fun place to have a look around. Quite badly trashed, but still an interesting location. Good to see you two getting out and about exploring again.
Hi mate yer it's great to be out... This place it well trashed and explored but has been on our list for some time... Still can't understand why these places get smashed up like this but nothing we can do about it.... Hope you are well 😊
Remember it well. Worked in the Pay Office from March 1958 to November 1959 (I was part of the Ship's Company as distinct from one of the trainees). Seeing what the youngsters went through, I was glad I had done my training in a much less arduous way. Bit off the beaten track (Ipswich, Harwich and Felixstowe as about your lot). Spent most of summers playing cricket against Hadleigh and many others. Is the Red Lion at Chelmondiston still going? Similar question re the Butt and Oyster at Pin Mill? Happt Days (for some!)
Love reading people's stories about this place. Thanks for watching 😀🙂
I did my police training there in the 90s renowned for being coldest place on earth in the winter 😂.
Block next to the swimming pool was called Vincent block, the swimming pool was soo bloody cold brings back a few memories!!! Thanks
We get so many ex police and current police officers msg us with memories of this place each one has a different story to tell...and we really enjoy hearing them...thank you for your comments really appreciated it 🙂
Thanks for the tour loved it 👍
Nice explore guys. You really captured it well and took some amazing shots. Well done. 👍👍
Thank you we did try... There's just so much there it's untrue 😊
Absolutely riveted this video! Great stuff. Thanks you two
Thank you so much some will like it some won't 👍😊
Guys that place was left pretty much derelict when the police recruit training school moved out in the 90’s .before that it was a sports summer camp venue… it was later used for public order ( riot ) training and method of entry and firearms tactics and training by Suffolk’s finest..hence the bloody great mess.
Good to hear the mast is to be fully restored next year.
We spoke to a few people that day and told us the future plans for the place....lots of history and fantastic stories...we have been contacted by so many people telling us there experiences there and it's great to hear....thank you for your comments we always appreciate it thank you and happy new year 🙂
Good stuff and very thorough coverage of everywhere as always :)
Thank you both we really appreciate that specially from you 👍😊
Two of you exploring again awesome 😀😀😀😀
It's great to be back and to be seeing all of you again 👍
Nice one. I felt sorry for anyone who had to perform on that stage with a pillar stuck in the middle of it in the bar. Interesting video.
Thank you Raymond always a pleasure to have you comment 😊
Love that guys, you get a funny feeling going round places like that don’t you (well, I do! ) 😂 you should do a camp there 😬
Have a good week guys
Ash 🏕
Cheers Ash hope you are well and yer that feeling is called nerves lol
Exploring with Em & Stu 😂 yeah I suppose you could call it that! All good thanks, hope you’re both well too 👍🏼
Great video and footage thanks for sharing cheers 👍
Thank you for your comments always nice to hear from you 😊👍
I went there today as my father who is 94 sadly lost his best friend who drowned there aged 17 in the swimming pool on March 24th 1944.I have gathered loads of information about his best friend including the coroners report.My father was given his friends watch and the last photo taken of him before he drowned.My father was told by his friends parents at the funeral that they found Ray at the bottom of the pool after all the boys and instuctors had got changed but it was nothing like that.There were 51 in the pool on that day and Ray was heard to cry for help while fully clothed in the deep end trying to tread water close to the diving board .One instructor and six boys came to his funeral and not one of them would talk to my father,they all completely ignored him.My dad has always said that because Ray lived in Sloane Street in London people picked on him and saw him as a rich kid, little did they know that his parents were just caretakers for the owners of the house.My dad wanted to join the navy with Ray but was six months too young.Ray told my dad that he desparately wanted to serve in the war but sadly never made it past the Ganges swimming pool.
Thats such a sad story Philip 😞. Have u been to the military cemetery at the church nearby? So many graves there of young men and boys that lost their lives training at Ganges. It really does bring it all into perspective what these people went through. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu Didnt go to the military cemetery but I am going back in the summer so I will go then,and also to the museum.Thank you both for your amazing video
@@philiphall9954 We'd also like to go to the military museum this year, fingers crossed it will be open again this year. Thank you for your nice comment 👍
Awesome vid guys and great views 👏👏
Thank glad you enjoyed it 😊👍
My dad was there in mid/late 50's doing his naval training.
It was a great place to go.... Its now going to be houses.... But at least there keeping some features 😊
We really hope so to as far as we know they will be keeping the mast... The place was brilliant mostly the gun battery 😊
We have seen things disappear that's listed we really hope it don't disappear 🤔
I was there 1970/1. The first building you looked at was the senior rates mess. This was where the Petty and Chief Petty Officers lived. Sad to see the place looking like this.
Omg it's great to have you comment we are greatful you mailed us it was so sad to see... We wasn't really there to see the place we was there for the gun battery but a lovely place to look around such ashame to see the disrespect that it's had 😕
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu When I was there aged 15-16, it was all activity. Hundreds of boy sailors learning their craft. It was run very strictly and punishments were common. It all changed when the "twelve" was over and we were posted. The mast is in a poor way. I only got up to the "cow horns", not the button. It was said that only divers and nutcases got to the button.
Hawke div. Three mess.
I was there in 89 when it was a police training centre. I was a trainee. There were Officers from Thames Valley, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, City of London, Essex & Royal Parks trained there.
We were drilled by an ex RAF Regiment drill Sergeant who was in his element complete with pace stick and bellowing if you dared cut the corner of his hallowed tarmac.
It all ran on a military template but modernity was creeping in. At that time some of the buildings on the estuary side of the camp had already been demolished.
The last area you entered continued as the NAAFI, where all meals were eaten. That building housed the female students rooms and staff.
The large bar was only used for dining in night at the end of the courses. I think staff had a smaller bar in that block. As you walk from there across the parade square past the mast there were large hangars on the left. The large multi floor building to the front were male student accomodation. On the ground floor left in that block was the student bar, staffed by students on a rota. To the right of that building was the pool. At that time we did a police bronze medallion life saving and some interclass competitions. I think by that time the changing rooms were defunked.
Standing looking at the front doors of the pool and away to the right were a double story classroom block and to the right of that and further back, the gym.
The whole place was very much structurally on its last legs at that stage.
The mast was an obvious part of the whole establishment. Some other comments mention the 'button boys'. I think you have a clip showing the sailors on the mast. The button boy would be the cherry on the cake, standing right at the top. I understand if you go to the local churchyard, a few who fell are buried there.
hi nice to be able to follow again (dave)
Did you leave 🤔
Now I recognize this place from Dale and Corina
Yer they didn't get into the swimming pool tho 😊
Nice one. Luv it 🏆👍
Thank you 👍👍👍😊😊😊😊
I agree with other comments that your explorations observed and recorded are now part of our history here 🏆🪂🏆👍
Really nice of you to say.... As we love the history and stories behind these pleases 👍😊
Place looks amazing, we just had a look around the outside but bumped into security at the gates who told us not to try and come in :( how did you find entering? Me and my camera would have a field day in that pool!!
When we went quite a few months ago there was an entry point but not the easiest, unfortunately when we returned a few weeks later security had been beefed up with motion sensors installed and we got caught before getting anywhere near the pool.. I wouldn't try it now unfortunately.
there are also underground tunnels at that place
Yer we did a video on them 🙂
new housing development going up on the site now drove pas it on sat
Yes I believe its been on the cards for some years now.. exactly the reason we wanted to film there as alot will be demolished in the near future 😔
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu looked thike the pool and the mast was there still lot of the more "modern " buildings are down
@@lawrencesculpher The mast is supposed to be restored and put back I heard.. Apparently the pool is going but some ppl are trying to get it saved, unfortunatelytheres not much they can do with it so will probably get demolished.. 😒
Nice vid guys
Thanks Robert hope you are well 👍😊
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu Hi it could be better to be honest. Good vid it was nice to explore the base.
We hope ur OK pal 🤔😊
I’ve been there so many times we keep on getting chases
We've been 3 times and were caught the last time we went, they'd beefed up security abit at that time, not sure what its like now.
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu Yh I went a couple of weeks and there was guards everywhere
@@cadeangell6558 oh really.. just the 1 when we went but it was the motion sensors going off that caught us lol.
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu wait there motion sensors where
@@cadeangell6558 We set off one next to the swimming pool, although we know people who've been since and had no problems, maybe they aren't always turned on! 😄
Hi. Can I send you a PM about Ganges? Great video.
Yes of course you can find us on fb 👍😊
My wife did her police training here back in 1988.
This place was great so interesting and the history.... Is she still in the police 😊
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu no, retired in 2014, her father joined the navy in 1932 and did his training there aged 14. She was a bit sad to see it's deteriorated so much.
We are sorry to show it in that light but it will soon be gone and really wanted to document this.... We hope it could bring some good memories tho 😊😔
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu yes it did, it's good it's documented, soon be a housing estate 😕
I did too. January through to April 1988.
MY SISTER WAS POSTED THERE IN 70s
That place was a hard place to be 😊
👍
😊😊👍👍👍👍👍
Hey! Thinking about going, how did you get in? Is it still there?
Still there but wouldn't bother motion sensors there now you can get to the battery and some building... Stay away from the swimming pool tho 😊
Exploring with Em & Stu Is there motion censors on the way in? And which buildings have the censors?
We was cought there and was taken to the offices and saw the alarms going off we defo know the swimming pool but don't know what other... We had our pictures taken and told us they knew who we was and not to come back 😕
Exploring with Em & Stu Ahh that’s dodgy, we won’t then. Thanks for warning us, we’ll go elsewhere :)
It's worth checking out the battery tho you should be able to get there no problem
There is a lot of asbestos in those buildings.
Yer there is 😕
HMS Ganges has an interesting history. The trouble is videos like this simple encourage trespassing on the site, illegal trespassing as in in the video simply encourages others to do the same. Its not "exploring" its trespassing .
I'd be interested to know what 'illegal trespassing' is.. I'm guessing its different to the normal trespassing that people like us do which isn't actually illegal at all but a civil matter between the trespasser and the land owner... Now if you're referring to aggregated trespass then yes that is illegal but you certainly won't find any of that in this video or any of our others for that matter! Either way I'm guessing urban exploration videos probably aren't for you as the majority of them include some sort of trespassing especially in England where unfortunately we don't have the right to roam act like they do in places like Scotland.. Sorry you didn't enjoy the video but thanks for watching..
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu while trespassing isn't a criminal offense i would have thought the signage prohibiting entry and security measures would be a clue . Posting your videos has significantly increased the number of people breaking into the site and even sleeping in the buildings which are unsafe with asbestos etc present . The bottom line is it may not be criminal offense sadley, but just because you can do doesn't mean you have to do it . Nor does it mean its its responsible or socially acceptable.
People have been visiting this site for years before our visit most of whom like us aren't vandals but just want to experience its interesting history for themselves.. Its a shame really that places like these can't be preserved and turned into museums dedicated to all the service men that passed through it over the decades but alas money always comes first and in the very near future the site and all it's history will be lost forever with the only documentation being videos like ours.. As you will see if you've read some of the others comments we've received many come from people who had served there or have family members who had and they are grateful to be able to see the place again before its lost forever and that's exactly the reason we do this.. One day historians will be glad of videos like ours as it will be all that is left of some of our great British history..
@@ExploringWithEmAndStu It may interest you to know my late father served in the Royal Navy during WW2 on Destroyers and he trained at HMS Ganges. My opinion still stands .
@@ianfossett4482 That's fair enough, if we all had the same opinions the world would be a very boring place..
I think you mean Naval base. Navel means your belly button.
Oh OK fair enough 😊
👏❤️😁Xxx
Thank you 👍😊👍👍😊
I live in Ipswich didnt even know it was there
Won't be long it's on its way out