Drone Horizons

24/12/2025

Drone Horizons would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas & a happy New Year, see you all in 2026…

18/12/2025

Thank you to all subscribers/followers for continued support in 2025…Here is a collection of flights in 2025, hope you enjoy & see you all in 2026………

Thank you to all subscribers/followers for continued support in 2025…Here is a collection of flights in 2025, hope you enjoy & see you all in 2026……… ...

11/12/2025

Drone Horizons

Orford Castle Suffolk Uk

Orford Castle is a castle in Orford in the English county of Suffolk, 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Ipswich, with views over Orford Ness. It was built between 1165 and 1173 by Henry II of England to consolidate royal power in the region. The well-preserved keep, described by historian R. Allen Brown as "one of the most remarkable keeps in England", is of a unique design and probably based on Byzantine architecture. The keep stands within the earth-bank remains of the castle's outer fortifications.

12th century

The honour of Eye was a landholding that included Orford and at various points was under royal control. In 1156, Henry II granted the honour to Lord Chancellor Thomas Becket and confiscated it in 1162 when the then Archbishop of Canterbury came into conflict with the king and fled to France. Prior to the building of Orford Castle, Suffolk was dominated by the Bigod family, who held the title of the Earl of Norfolk and owned key castles at Framlingham, Bungay, Walton and Thetford.

Orford Castle is a castle in Orford in the English county of Suffolk, 12 miles (19 km) northeast of Ipswich, with views over Orford Ness. It was built betwee...

04/12/2025

The Invincible Ancient Fortresses That Defied Capture.

Tilbury Fort, also known historically as the Thermitage Bulwark and the West Tilbury Blockhouse, is an artillery fort on the north bank of the River Thames in England. The earliest version of the fort, comprising a small blockhouse with artillery covering the river, was constructed by King Henry VIII to protect London against attack from France as part of his Device programme. It was reinforced during the 1588 Spanish Armada invasion scare, after which it was reinforced with earthwork bastion, and Parliamentary forces used it to help secure the capital during the English Civil War of the 1640s. Following naval raids during the Anglo-Dutch Wars, the fort was enlarged by Sir Bernard de Gomme from 1670 onwards to form a star-shaped defensive work, with angular bastions, water-filled moats and two lines of guns facing onto the river. In addition to protecting the Thames, in the 18th century Tilbury also began to be used as a transit depot and for storing gunpowder. It continued to be essential for the defence of the capital and a new artillery battery was added in the south-east corner during the Napoleonic Wars. The fort became decreasingly significant as a defensive structure as military technology developed in the 19th century. It was redeveloped to hold heavy artillery after 1868, providing a second line of defence along the river, but further changes in technology meant that it had become obsolete by the end of the century. Instead Tilbury became a strategic depot, forming a logistical hub for storing and moving troops and materiel throughout the First World War. The fort had only a limited role in the Second World War and was demobilised in 1950. Tilbury Fort is now operated by the charity English Heritage Trust as a tourist attraction

Tilbury Fort, also known historically as the Thermitage Bulwark and the West Tilbury Blockhouse, is an artillery fort on the north bank of the River Thames i...

27/11/2025

St Mary Helmingham Suffolk Uk

The church dates to at least 1258, though the earliest record of a rector comes from 1307. The striking west tower was added in 1488 by John Tollemache of Helmingham Hall to celebrate his marriage to Elizabeth Joyce in the previous year. Tollemache paid £30 for the tower. Unusually, the building plans survive, and are held in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The result is a wonderful example of Perpendicular Gothic style.
The tower plinth bears the Latin inscription 'scandit ad ethera virgo puerpera virgula jesse' which translates as 'the Virgin Mother, branch of Jesse’s stem, ascends to heaven'. It is curious that this inscription, with its very Catholic sentiment, was added at the same time as Henry VIII's efforts to break from the Catholic church.
The tower was not finished until 1510, and the parapet in 1543, at the same time as the south porch, with its eye-catching vertical flushwork. The north door dates to sometime between AD 1190 and 1300, and is the oldest part of the building. The south door is thought to be early 13th century. This Church also featured in Only Fools & Horses episode The Frog’s Legacy.

The church dates to at least 1258, though the earliest record of a rector comes from 1307. The striking west tower was added in 1488 by John Tollemache of He...

20/11/2025

Drone flight at night showing London at its very best…Tower Bridge, The O2 Arena, Canary Wharf, The Shard, Tower of London….

Drone flight at night showing London at its very best…Tower Bridge, The O2 Arena, Canary Wharf, The Shard, Tower of London…. ...

13/11/2025

Exploring Harwich Essex Uk

Harwich is a town and civil parish in the Tendring district of Essex, England. It is one of the Haven ports on the North Sea coast.
LV18 Lightvessel:- The Lightvessel LV18 on Harwich Quay has been home to radio stations for more than 25 years.
It also boasts a museum covering the history of the 1960s and 1970s pirate radio stations – a history captured in the film The Boat That Rocked.
The High Lighthouse:- Built in 1818 to replace a light over the Town Gate. This and the Low Lighthouse were used in transit to aid navigation into the harbour.
The Low Lighthouse:- Built in 1818 to replace the earlier wooden structures dating from the late 17th century. It is now the towns’ Maritime Museum.
Beacon Hill Fort:- Beacon Hill Fort was built in 1890 to be the latest addition to the Harwich defences. Since Tudor times Harwich has been an important anchorage and many forts and batteries have been built to protect it. Beacon Hill was closed in 1956 but is now open to the public for the first time in its long history.
Harwich RedoubtFort:- An extremely impressive 180ft (60m) diameter circular fort built in 1808 to defend the port of Harwich against a Napoleonic invasion. Ten guns sit on the battlements.

Harwich is a town and civil parish in the Tendring district of Essex, England. It is one of the Haven ports on the North Sea coast. LV18 Lightvessel:- The Li...

13/11/2025

Castle Acre Priory Norfolk Uk

Castle Acre Priory was a Cluniac priory in the village of Castle Acre, Norfolk, England, dedicated to St Mary, St Peter, and St Paul. It is thought to have been founded in 1089 by William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey (the son of the 1st Earl of Surrey who had founded England's first Cluniac priory at Lewes in 1077). The order originated from Burgundy. Originally the priory was sited within the walls of Castle Acre Castle, but this proved too small and inconvenient for the monks; hence, the priory was relocated to the present site in the castle grounds about one year later. The priory was dissolved in 1537, and its ruins are in the care of English Heritage, along with the nearby Castle Acre Bailey Gate and Castle Acre Castle.

Castle Acre Priory was a Cluniac priory in the village of Castle Acre, Norfolk, England, dedicated to St Mary, St Peter, and St Paul. It is thought to have b...

30/10/2025

Just for a bit of fun for Halloween… Enjoy

Just for a bit of fun for Halloween… Enjoy Email:- [email protected]

23/10/2025

Exploring RAF Woodbridge Suffolk Uk

RAF Woodbridge was a former Royal Air Force (RAF) and later United States Air Force (USAF) airbase near Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, famous for its link to the
1980 Rendlesham Forest incident. Constructed in 1943 as a RAF military airfield during the Second World War to assist damaged aircraft to land on their return from raids over Germany it was later used by the United States Air Force during the Cold War, being the primary home for the 79th and 78th Tactical Fighter Squadrons and squadrons of the 81st Fighter Wing under various designations until 1993. For many years, the 81st also operated from nearby RAF Bentwaters, with Bentwaters and Woodbridge being known as the "Twin Bases". Since 2006, it has been known as MOD Woodbridge, incorporating Woodbridge Airfield and Rock Barracks.
Woodbridge Airfield is used by Army Air Corps aircraft for training and Rock Barracks are home to the newly formed 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) of the Royal Engineers.

RAF Woodbridge was a former Royal Air Force (RAF) and later United States Air Force (USAF) airbase near Woodbridge, Suffolk, England, famous for its link to ...

16/10/2025

The main events of the incident, including the supposed landing or landings, took place in the forest, which starts at the east end of the base runway or about 0.3 miles (0.5 km) to the east of the East Gate of RAF Woodbridge, from where security guards first noticed mysterious lights appearing to descend into the forest. The forest extends east about one mile (1.6 km) beyond East Gate, ending at a farmer's field at Capel Green, where additional events allegedly took place.

The main events of the incident, including the supposed landing or landings, took place in the forest, which starts at the east end of the base runway or abo...

19/07/2025

Harvest time, Bradfield Essex Uk

Drone flight capturing a combine harvester at work, It cuts, threshes (separates grain from the plant), and winnows (removes chaff from the grain) crops like wheat, corn, and barley. This integration of tasks streamlines the harvesting process, saving time and labor compared to traditional methods. In this particular field is wheat. Many thanks to Wix farm group.

Drone flight capturing a combine harvester at work, It cuts, threshes (separates grain from the plant), and winnows (removes chaff from the grain) crops like...