Sunday 19th January 2014

Today we rode back to the fort to carry on with the Nissen Hut.

The first job today was to dig around the base. This is for the wood that will be put down for the base just like the plans I found on the computer.

It was very hard work but there were lots of people to help.

After lunch some of the helpers carried on digging at the top of the fort near where the cannons would be and daddy carried on painting the metal curves. This time he painted them grey. This time I got to help for a bit longer.

Jake and I then got to play for a while. I had brought my bow and arrows with me so really enjoyed it. We both made some animals in the sand on the bank. I made a cat. Daddy's friend Ashley came with his children and had a tour - I hope he enjoyed it!

Sunday 5th January 2014

The first day at the fort of 2014!

Today daddy, Jake and me went to start helping with the new Nissen Hut. It was the first time I had seen it and there are a lot of bit and pieces to clean and put together.

First job was to move the curve metal bits from the tunnel so that we could clean them. They were very heavy.

Next it was time to start cleaning. THIS WAS THE BEST PART OF THE DAY!

It was very hard work and there were 21 that need to be cleaned today.

Once they were cleaned Craig and daddy started to paint them red. I had a little go but was not allowed to do very much because the paint was too smelly!

I think they looked much better than when we started, what do you think? Which one of these pictures looks the best?

     

Sunday 29th December

Today daddy and I had a look on the computer to find out more about Nissen Huts, this is what we found...

Nissen Hut was invented and built as housing for troops in WW1, The Great War. Due to its semicircular, corrugated iron shape the Nissen Hut deflected shrapnel and bomb blast making it a perfect bomb shelter.


WHO INVENTED IT?

George Herman Nissen left Norway for the US to learn how to build Clipper Ships. However when he got to the US he realised that the clipper ship market was worth nothing and so decided to join the gold rush.

Here he entered in to the mining equipment industry where he became an expert on the "stamp mill" - which was used to crush the gold ore. After several attempts he decided the current stamp was not efficient enough and invented a better model. After moving around the mining reigns he travelled to Colorado Springs. The family moved to New York where he went back to being a stamp maker.

Peter Norman Nissen was born on August 6th 1871, most lightly in New York. In 1873 George had saved enough money to return to Norway, where he found his father. The family then returned to New York.

Soon after the Nissen family returned to Caroline were George moved around to be closer to the Gold Mine he was working in. It was here that Peter first showed his engineering skills. He had borrowed an old gun from a friend - when to his great dismay it broke. He ran to his father who just told him to "fix it". Peter presided to take the gun apart until he found a piece that had broken. He worked until he had made a new piece to the fit the gun. Once put back together, the gun worked as well as ever .

Peter attended Trinity College and was part of the reformation from Trinity College to the Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

After he had finished his education he moved to Britain to exploit his fathers invention. However when WW1 started he joined the Royal Engineers where in late 1916 he invented the Nissen Hut.

HOW TO BUILD A NISSEN HUT

WHAT YOU NEED

STAGE 1

Wooden bearers are laid on level ground.

STAGE 2

Steel ribs are bolted to the bearers ande wooden purlins fixed to the ribs with hook-bolts.

STAGE 3

Wooden joists are screwed to the bearers. These joists support the wooden floor panels.

STAGE 4

The inner lining of light corrugations, is fixed behind the 'T'of each rib. The outside sheets, with vertical corrugations, are then fixed over the inner lining. The ends of the hut are covered with virtical boarding with battens over the joints.

Sunday 22nd December

Today I was a bit upset because I could not go and help. Daddy went but because it was not at the fort it was not safe for children.

Today the helpers went to go and get the Nissen Hut that we are going to be building next year. It was lived in by two old ladies for 56 years. Here is the news paper article that daddy found for me about it ...

"A rare World War Two Nissen hut lived in for 56 years by two wartime land girls in Sussex is up for sale.

The dilapidated hut - which sits on an acre of land and is surrounded by crumbling outbuildings including a pig sty - was owned by Vera Barlow and Edith Hooper until they died months apart last year, aged 87 and 92.

The building in Chidham near Chichester, West Sussex, was used for housing Canadian soldiers manning ack ack guns to protect the local harbour area during the Second World War.

'Disrepair': The hut - which is in 'a state of disrepair' sits in an acre of land and is surrounded by dilapidated outbuildings including a pig sty

Lifelong friends Miss Barlow and Miss Hooper were well known about the local community and washed dishes at a local hospital, kept livestock and did a local egg round to earn money.

Due to its semi-cylindrical shape and layer of corrugated iron sheets the Nissen hut deflected shrapnel and bomb blast making it a perfect bomb shelter.

Land girls: The home was owned by former land girls Vera Barlow and Edith Hooper from 1956 until early 2012 when they both passed away aged 87 and 92

Gunners' home: The building in Chidham near Chichester, West Sussex, was used for housing Canadian soldiers manning ack ack guns to protect the local harbour area during the Second World War

They drove around in an old Bedford van, owned a motorbike, and shared an old grey Ferguson tractor.

The three-bedroom hut is described by estate agents Stride & Son based in Chichester as in a 'poor state of repair' but the site is 'ready for redevelopment' subject to planning laws.

Estate agent Nick Stride said they weren't listing a guide price for the property because of the 'uniqueness' of the site and that they were selling it by tender.

Bomb-proof: Due to its semi-cylindrical shape and layer of corrugated iron sheets the Nissen hut deflected shrapnel and bomb blast making it a perfect bomb shelter

Dilapidated: The three-bedroom hut is described by estate agents Stride & Son based in Chichester as in a 'poor state of repair' but the site is 'ready for redevelopment' subject to planning laws

He added: 'We think it was actually built for the First World War before certainly being used in the Second World War. 

'It is extremely unusual to get a one-acre building plot like this - even more so to be so near a harbour.'

Interested buyers should submit offers in writing to Stride and Son's officers by February 28.

The Nissen's original design was masterminded by Major Peter Norman Nissen of the 29th Company Royal Engineers of the British Army during the First World War after which the British government ordered 100,000 for sites across the UK.

Home sweet home: Previous owners and lifelong friends Miss Barlow and Miss Hooper washed dishes at a local hospital, kept livestock and did a local egg round to earn money

Disrepair: Despite the fact that the property has fallen into disrepair, its estate agents say the rates have been paid since 1956 and everything runs as it should

Its main selling point was that it used relatively few materials and was easily portable.

Indeed, the Nissen hut could be packed in a standard Army wagon and erected by six men in four hours. The world record for erection was 1 hour 27 minutes.

After a stay of absence from British production lines, the Nissen re-emerged during the Second World War and used for a wide range of functions from accommodation to churches and bomb stores.

Very few survive, but examples can still be found in the UK, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific."

I think that it is really great that we will keep there house safe and that it will not be smashed up. I can't wait to help build it next year.

Sunday 10th November

Today was a really great day at the fort and I was there for a really long time.

Mummy, daddy, Jake and me all rode our bikes we went past the wreath that Gary and Sharon had laid in the morning and stopped to have a look.

First we had to put the big tent up again, this time is was tied to the ground so that it would not blow away. We helped lots during the day but the bit I liked the most was putting out all the jars and candles ready for later.

 

After that Jake and I got to play until it was dark and then then band came and started the music. While we waited for people to come I practised my Kata (I wanted to show Grandpa!)

When the people came, daddy, Jake and I helped to show people what to do and where to go and mummy helped in the hut making the coffee and tea. Father Terry came and spoke to everyone and then people lit candles to remember people. I did some for my Grandpa.

It looked really pretty in the dark.

We stayed until ot got cold and then Grandma came to get us! The fire was still burning when we left and we could see it as we drove past the light house.

Sunday 29th September

Today only daddy and I went to the fort. It was Gambit Sunday so we had already got a busy day - Jake and mummy stayed at the games club and daddy's friend Colin drove us there for a little bit!

There was lots to do today and there were lots of people helping. Daddy and me cut the grass which had got really long. Daddy did most of the work but I did have a little go.

When we finished it looked really good.

When we had finished Barry came to pick us up and had a coffee with the Friends of Shoreham Fort. Hopefully we will get longer to help next time!