It was built to protect Harwich from German invasion in 1941 and was home to more than 100 naval officers. But after the war it was deserted, until 50 years ago when Roy Bates turned it into Sealand. Reporter LORRAINE KING looks back over the unique fort’s history.

SEALAND is a relic of the Second World War, one of four naval sea forts designed by Guy Maunsell for the British Royal Navy to defend key shipping lanes from German attack.

It was the first of originally four naval forts designed to protect the Thames Estuary.

The sea fort was constructed in dry dock at Red Lion Wharf, Gravesend, in 1941. It was originally HM Fort Roughs or Roughs Tower during the war, with between 100 and 120 naval officers stationed there.

In February 1942 the fort was towed to a location on Rough Sands – a patch of shallow water, approximately ten miles off Harwich.

Its base was then intentionally flooded so that it sank in about 11 metres of water, coming to rest on the sandbar – seven miles off Harwich.

This artificial naval installation is similar in some respects to early fixed offshore oil platforms.

The twin concrete supporting towers were divided into seven floors – four for crew quarters, the remainder provided dining, operational, and storage areas for generators, fresh water tanks and anti-aircraft munitions.

The towers were joined by a steel platform deck on which anti-aircraft guns were mounted.

At the end of wartime hostilities, all original military personnel were evacuated from HM Fort Roughs.

It remained deserted until 1966 when Roy Bates, who operated Radio Essex, and Ronan O’Rahilly, who ran pirate station Radio Caroline, occupied the site and declared it an independent mini state. The Government sent in Royal Marines and ordered Bates to surrender and leave what it claimed was Crown property.

He and his son were arrested and charged, but the courts threw out the case as they did not have jurisdiction over international affairs because Roughs Tower lay beyond the legal territorial waters of Britain.

Roy Bates took this as de facto recognition of his country and later issued a constitution, flag, postage stamp and national anthem.

Fifty years ago this month – on the birthday of his Bates’ wife Joan, the new princess – the Principality of Sealand was founded.

Gazette:

  • Roy Bates and his wife Princess Joan (picture courtesy of Sealand)

Prince Michael Bates, owner of Sealand since his father’s death in 2012, said Sealand’s three sister forts were destroyed.

“They blew them up when we declared our independence, so no-one else could do it,” he added.

“Sealand is a one-off.

“I was 14 at the time, I thought it would be a short adventure and it turned into 50 years.”

But declaring independence wasn’t the end of Sealand’s story.

In August 1978, German lawyer Alexander Achenbach, who described himself as the Prime Minister of Sealand, hired mercenaries to attack Sealand while Roy Bates and his wife Joan were away.

They stormed the platform and took Michael, then aged 14, hostage.

But Roy Bates was able to retake Sealand and capture Achenbach and the mercenaries using weapons stashed on the platform. Achenbach was charged with treason, but was released weeks later.

Since then the outpost has operated as an offshore storage centre for electronic records, and sells aristocratic titles and Sealand paraphernalia.

Among its many title-holders is the singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who is Baron of Sealand.

It has also hosted a wacky half-marathon and sports events.

Gazette:

  • Prince Michael Bates, owner of Sealand (picture courtesy of Sealand)

Prince Michael said: “We’ve done all sorts of things.

“We have our own football team, which played Fulham All Stars, marathon running, skateboarding, curling and polo.”

In 2015, the fisherman has released a biography of his colourful life as a Sealand prince – which is now being made into a Hollywood film.

He released a limited edition of 500 copies of his book Holding the Fort on the Principality of Sealand’s independence day, telling a story of sawn-off shotguns, kidnap, gangsters and sleeping with a gun under his pillow.

On September 2, Sealand’s royal family celebrated the milestone birthday with friends.

Prince Michael said: “There were too many people to get to Sealand, so we went to the Boathouse in Leigh on Sea for a dinner party, “There were over 150 guests from all over the world, including America, Argentina and China.

“It was amazing, really good.”

For more information about Sealand or to buy Prince Michael's book or memorabilia click here