Situated on the opposite side of the River Thames to Tilbury Fort, New Tavern Fort was one of several built to protect to London and the surrounding area. Built on the site of ‘New Tavern Inn’, construction started in the 1780’s and lasted some 13 years. In the following century, between 1865 and 1879, the fort was extensively rebuilt by General Charles Gordon to keep up with the everlasting threat of invasion.
In 1904, the fort was re-armed and the some of the guns still remain today marked 1918. The site continued to be used in the Second World War for defence, and the site features some AA Bofors guns today. The site also has tunnel magazines, however due to the weather we visited the site on a Friday, with the tunnels being closed. On the site is also Milton Chantry; a chapel being the oldest building in the Borough of Gravesham, built in 1322.
Volunteers of the New Tavern Fort Project who are in partnership with the Gravesham Council have undertaken work at the fort since 1975 and the fort and magazines are an ongoing dedicated project or restoration and presevation of history to visitors. They aim to promote the fort from a defence and military view as well as to explain it’s role within local history and were kindly given a tour around the site by volunteer Jay Curtis. Find out about when its open to visit here. Upon arriving, children and adults can receive an audio tour kit from reception at the fort for absolutely nothing, it’s free! School visits can be arranged and people should contact them here for any inquiries.
Photos
Exterior
Interior
Milton Chantry
Sources: http://www.discovergravesham.co.uk/gravesend/new-tavern-fort.html, http://www.gravesham.gov.uk/services/leisure-and-culture/tourism-and-travel/local-attractions/new-tavern-fort
New Tavern Fort marked the start of our 2013 trek across Thames-side Kent from Gravesend to Cliffe. You can see this adventure in the video from 2013 below.
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