Coalhouse Fort
Lovely
photo supplied by Coalhouse Fort
In 1539 King Henry 8th gave orders for
the construction of a blockhouse on the site of Coalhouse Fort,
East Tilbury as part of the defence works for London on the
River Thames.
The blockhouse constructed was one of a
series of fortifications that were built at times of
tension and then demolished at times of peace on this site. Most
were open gun batteries or small forts.
The current fort was built from 1861 and
completed in 1874 with its full armament in place by 1877.
By 1900 the fort was fitted with four
Naval BL guns which had a range of up to 8 miles and
four12pounder quick firing guns.
During World War One the fort was
initially manned by members of the Territorial Royal Garrison
Artillery based at Stratford. Later it was manned by the Essex
and Suffolk Royal Garrison Artillery and then used mainly as
barracks.
Searchlights operated by the London
Electrical Engineers were mounted at the fort which was no
longer one of the main river defences for London. It's main use
was to check shipping en route to London with it's guard ship
HMS Champion.
During World War Two the Fort was again
used as a base to check incoming shipping travelling to the Port
of London. This was achieved not only by guns but by a minefield
established in the River Thames at this point.
The fort also acted as a degaussing point
to protect ships from magnetic mines.
The building also housed a combined
operations base.
Its most obviously military use was as an
anti aircraft base with searchlight and two anti aircraft guns
that were in frequent use on aircraft following the river on
their way to London.
In 1983 the fort was in poor condition
and restoration began to take place.
The fort is managed by Coalhouse Fort
Project who have opened the fort to the public as part of their
fund raising activities to continue restoration.
The fort is situated in riverside
parkland with a memorial park.
Inside the fort the fortification are
open to view and there is a fort museum and the Thameside
Aviation Museum.
Click here to
visit the Coalhouse Fort website and find out more information
and details of current admission fees.
Click here to
visit the Coalhouse Fort Park website.
Click here for
details of the Two Forts Walk starting at Coalhouse Fort
