LL 009, Aberdeen Praya [1939-????] | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

LL 009, Aberdeen Praya [1939-????]

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Submitted by Rob on Thu, 2014-03-20 17:56
Current condition: 
Demolished / No longer exists
Date Place completed: 
1939-01-01
Year completed is: Approximate
Condition at last visit: Demolished
Date of last visit: Jan-1998
Ref: ROB-00708
Other:
Tags: 
lyon light
Beach Defence Unit
Island LL
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Photos that show this place

1940

Comments

Submitted by gw on Sat, 2015-09-12 18:20.

This photo, from HT's album entitled "Aberdeen HK" on Flickr, shows a Lyon Light (LL) shelter in the background. It's definitely a LL because of its rounded front, hinged metal shutters that fold down to open, and ventilation channels and chimney on the roof. HT places it in Aberdeen, but where?

The photo shows a road suitable for cars immediately behind the LL. Judging by the numerous sails and the proximity of the hillside opposite, the LL was at sea level on the shore of a busy and fairly narrow anchorage or harbour. The opposite shore is steep sided and sparsely developed. All this fits with the LL being somewhere around Aberdeen Harbour with Ap Lei Chau opposite.

Pillboxes 7 to 9, 12 & 13, and their LL's, were all in the general area of Aberdeen harbour. The LL in the photo can't be LL No.7 at Kellet Bay because Ap Lei Chau would be further away. It can't be LL No.8 either as this one is still there today, and sits at the bottom of a slope with no room for a road behind it. LL's 12 and 13 were on the west side of Brick Hill, where I don't think the coast road was built until much later than the '30's/40's.

That process of elimination leaves LL No.9, which fits the description on all counts. Unless anyone, particularly Rob, advises differently, LL No.9 it is. 

Submitted by tngan on Sun, 2015-09-13 00:27.

Hi there,

LL8 (the one just a bit off the breakwater on the west end had been demolished a few years ago when they fixed the slope.

As for the location of LL9 I guess it might be somewhere closer to the old Praya, before the Dockyard maybe?  The old coast line was way inward back in those days.

T

Submitted by gw on Sun, 2015-09-13 11:23.

Hi Tom,

LL 8 was still there when I last visited it in March this year. Pic at www.gwulo.com/atom/22419.

I agree that LL 9 was probably to the west of the Dockyard.

Submitted by Rob on Wed, 2015-09-16 09:52.

Can only agree with it being LL 9. My references put it in the area now occupied by the Fish Market, which would be west of the old dockyard, and on the then waterfront, with what is now Aberdeen Praya Road close behind. PB 10 and 11 were opposite on Ap Lei Chau but well back from the waterfront, without any roads in the vicinity, and 10 was built without a LL. I can only presume this was to stop 10 from blinding the crews of PB 8 and 9.