Spectacular remnants of a dead-end technology, the three concrete “listening ears” at Denge near Dungeness in Kent are the best known of the various early warning acoustic mirrors built along Britain’s coast.
Did sound mirrors work?
The mirrors did work, and could effectively be used to detect slow moving enemy aircraft before they came into sight. They worked by concentrating sound waves towards a central point, where the microphone would have been located.
What were sound mirrors used for?
Sound or acoustic mirrors were one of the first early warning detection systems invented to give advanced notice of an approaching enemy aircraft. These worked by focusing the sound from the plane’s engine so it could be heard before it was visible.
Where are the Denge Sound Mirrors?
The acoustic mirrors, known colloquially as ‘listening ears’, at Denge are located between Greatstone-on-Sea and Lydd airfield, on the banks of a now disused gravel pit.
What are the listening ears Dungeness?
acoustic mirrors
The Listening Ears also known as ‘acoustic mirrors’ located in Denge near Dungeness in Kent are large concrete structures designed as an early warning system for Britain to detect enemy aircraft. They were built in the 1920’s and are the best known of the various acoustic mirrors built along Britain’s coast.
What are the Denge sound mirrors?
The Denge Sound Mirrors (also known as the Acoustic Mirrors or Listening Ears) are three concrete structures which range in size from 20 to 200 feet. They were built between 1928 and 1935 as part of Britain’s national defence strategy.
What is the big concrete thing in back to life?
Sound mirrors are blocks of concrete that were built along the coasts of England between the two World Wars. They are used to reflect and focus sound waves and can pick up noises from great distances, making them useful for surveillance.
Are the hides open at RSPB Dungeness?
The nature reserve, car park and toilets will be open as usual 9am-5pm throughout. The following hides are also open – Dennis’s hide/viewpoint, Christmas dell hide, Dengemarsh hide and the Viewing Screen. Along with Firth and Scott lookout.
What is a British acoustic mirror listening post?
A forerunner of radar, acoustic mirrors were built on the south and northeast coasts of England between about 1916 and the 1930s. The ‘listening ears’ were intended to provide early warning of incoming enemy aeroplanes and airships about to attack coastal towns.
Is Dungeness a desert?
Dungeness – disappointingly – is not actually a desert. To qualify as a true desert an area must receive less than 250 millimetres of precipitation a year.
Are the hides open at Minsmere?
Our hides and viewing points are open dawn to dusk, daily. Our nature trails are open.
Why is Dungeness so weird?
It’s a barren, desolate landscape, often wrongly described as the UK’s only desert because of its unique micro-climate. Home to many plants, animals and birds that exist nowhere else, a third of all UK plant species are found at Dungeness.
Where are the Best Sound Mirrors in the UK?
The Denge mirrors are the most famous, but there are a number of other early warning acoustic mirrors in Britain. There is another 200 ft mirror at Maghtab in Malta. If you visit any of the sound mirrors, you can add your photographs to the Sound Mirrors pool at Flickr. Sound mirror at Denge near Dungeness in Kent.
What is the history of acoustic reflectors?
The first operational acoustic reflectors were a pair of adjustable mirrors erected on the Kent coast in 1917, followed by a series of concrete static mirrors established on the north east coast later in World War One. Further experiments were carried out after the war.
Where are the sound mirrors in Greatstone?
The mirrors are near Greatstone in Kent. An approximate grid reference is TR 075213. The only way of getting up close to the Denge sound mirrors is by go to an open day run by the RSPB.
Where can I see the Denge sound mirrors?
The only way of getting up close to the Denge sound mirrors is by go to an open day run by the RSPB. It is well worth doing – the mirrors really are impressive close up. Other than the open days, there is no public access to the Dungeness mirrors, which are in the middle of a disused gravel pit. Contact the RSPB for the dates of future open days.
