These were employed for illuminating targets for the guns at night. Three types of light were used during the Victorian and Edwardian periods:
a) Fixed beams for the mine fields under the direction of the Royal Engineers;
b) Movable beams for the water in front of the minefield, under the direction of the officer in command of the Q.F. guns and other small guns;
c) Movable beams under the direction of the officer commanding the heavy guns. Those at Fort Gilkicker fell into the last category. They were in use at Gilkicker for a very short period of time, probably from 1904 to 1906, although it is possible that they were retained for instructinal use by the neaby School of Electric Lighting.
(click for a larger picture)
Concrete base no.1 for a coast Defence Electric Light (D.E.L.) to the east of Fort Gilkicker.
The same base as above viewed from the earth bank.
Concrete base no.2 for a D.E.L. to the east of Fort Gilkicker.
The Fitter's shop (right), later converted as an electricity sub-station.
The Fitter's shop (right), later converted as an electricity sub-station.
Another concrete base for searchlight no.3 lies to the immediate southwest of the earth embankment at the front of the fort but it is now obscured with earth.
Fort Gilkicker: Concrete base no.1 for a coast Defence Electric Light (D.E.L.) to the east of Fort Gilkicker
Fort Gilkicker: Concrete base no.1 viewed from the earth bank.
Fort Gilkicker: Concrete base no.2 for a D.E.L. to the east of Fort Gilkicker.
Fort Gilkicker: Concrete base no.4 for a D.E.L. to the west of Fort Gilkicker.
Fort Gilkicker: Imprint of the tramway in the tarmac of the approach road to Fort Gilkicker.
Fort Gilkicker: The twin embankment upon which the tramlines ran into The Submarine Mining Establishment.
Fort Gilkicker: The tramway embankment running from the Submarine mining Establishment toward Fort Gilkicker.
Fort Gilkicker: The Fitter's shop (right), later converted as an electricity sub-station.
Fort Gilkicker: The Fitter's shop, converted as an electricity sub-station.
