For the D-Day Normandy landings in 1944, the Allies needed harbours to offload soldiers, vehicles and equipment. As the enemy were unlikely to allow any to be captured without a fight, a plan was made to prefabricate two artificial concrete harbours, each bigger than the port of Dover and float them in sections across the channel before planting them at the landing beaches codenamed Omaha and Gold. This was to be one of the biggest and most complex civil engineering projects of the entire war. Stanswood Bay at Lepe was chosen to be one of the locations for construction of the mighty Phoenix cassions - the largest elements of the Mulberry project. Co-located at the same site was the Pipe Line Under the Ocean (codenamed PLUTO) as well as an embarkation point for invasion landing ships.
The Mulberry Harbour project was split into individually codenamed parts. As well as the Phoenixes built here, find out about Bombardons, Corn Cobs, Gooseberries, Spuds, Whales, Beetles, Swiss Roll and many more! Learn about the challenges, the race against time and the ultimate success of t his often overlooked part of D-Day - a triumph of British engineering, construction and seamanship.
As well as history, o ur stroll along the foreshore will take in splendid views of the Solent and Isle of Wight, and culminates in a walk along the 1,227 foot long raised concrete Phoenix construction platform.
Duration: approx 2 - 2.5 hours. Meet near the entrance to the seafront carpark (by the cafe and toilet block). Post Code SO45 1AD or precise location for meeting point via the very highly recommended What3Words geolocation app using the three words "tall.grove.lower". Note that as well as the seafront carpark, there are grass overflow fields behind the cafe. Please note that all these car parks are ticketed. Please wear sturdy shoes - no high heels, flip flops etc. Toilet and cafe facilities on site. As well as this 2pm tour, there is also an 11am tour listed separately on Eventbrite - click here for further details. For further details of our other tours of secret and hidden locations, go to https://hiddenhistorytours.uk
Access Statement: This event is reasonably accessible. It is entirely outside and is wheelchair accessible if you have cross-country capability. Surfaces include gravel, grass, sand and shingle. Total round trip distance walked approx 2 miles.
