A few miles from my home in the North Devon village of Hartland, as you head into Cornwall on the A39 towards Bude, is a turning with a sign marked GCHQ.
I have always been interested in sites like this as I am aware they are often involved in things that they just don't like to tell you. Back last summer I headed down there on a very hot afternoon to snap a few pictures. By this time I was already aware there may have been some sightings of anomalous objects near to or even over this base. I took a rather long route to the site and got within about 3 or 400 yards of the fence when I decided I should go no further. I got the feeling I have had whilst out Ghost Hunting, alone in the dark. To feel that way on a bright hot summers day was strange but, I am sure I was being watched and may well have not been alone had I got much closer? But, who knows?
Anyway, recently I was at a party and was chatting to someone I had just been introduced to. Following much chit chat about my day job, I mentioned my interest in the more esoteric subjects. To my surprise, when I mentioned the base at Morwenstow, this person had quite some knowledge of the place. I am not going to mention any names, where this party was etc but, I will just tell you what i heard.
During the war (WW2) the base was a firing range training gunners to target drones and targets towed behind ships and planes. Apparently, the aim of the trainee gunners was not good and often planes and boats were hit and not the drones.
During this time the Clovelly Lifeboat, at the time under the control of the MOD, would often be called out to 'Mystery' ships. However, no trace of these vessel would be found when the lifeboat arrived.
My source speculates that the 'mystery' ships were probably some kind of rescue craft sent out to rescue crews of downed planes or boats hit during test firing from the range. But, they must have been a strange sight and very quick to be able to pick up the crews and disappear before the arrival of the lifeboat?
After the war, the firing range was closed but, the site remained the property of the MOD and eventually it was turned into what it now is. during the construction of the various radar dishes, domes and buildings, civilian workers were required to work on construction.
However, when the civilian workers arrived base personel would close shutters around certain areas to stop anyone from seeing what was being installed at the site.
The site was originally jointly run by the UK and USA but, eventually was taken over by the Americans. I asked if that would be the NSA? To which I was told, Yes!
For a time only american staff worked at the site but, eventually UK staff trained at Cheltenham moved to the site but, the NSA still run the site.
Some else very interesting is that the site is famed for having the strongest radio signal in the South West. Engineers working on construction of the site would use the border fence as an ariel on very crude home made radios which would still achieve an amazingly clear signal.
So, thats my little ditty for today.
I hope you have enjoyed it and i'll be sure to update it if I get anymore information.
Till next time, Watch your back's....
Just kidding.
See ya next time.
