Kilnsea sound mirror
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The sound mirror at Kilnsea in East Yorkshire was one of a number built on the northeast coast around the time of the First World War; others were constructed at Hartlepool, Redcar, Sunderland and Boulby. Further examples existed on the south coast.
A forerunner of Radar, the accoustic mirrors were intended to provide early warning of incoming enemy aeroplanes and airships about to attack east coast towns.
![[Picture of the mirror from the south]](http://www.ajg41.plus.com/images/mirror/kilnsea2small.jpg "The sound mirror from the south")
The mirror worked by focusing the noise of aircraft engines onto a microphone, which amplified the sound. In this way the relatively slow aircraft of the time could be heard and located before they came into view.
