Listed Building record TQ 67 SE 37 - NEW TAVERN FORT

Summary

This riverside fort formed part of the defences of the Thames and was sited to cross its fire with Tilbury Fort opposite on the north bank. It originated in 1780 as an irregularly planned earthwork, fronted by an unrevetted ditch. It was armed with fifteen heavy guns (32 and 24 pounders) firing through embrasures. The medieval Milton Chantry was incorporated within the perimeter of the fort and used as an artillery barrack. Other buildings were added by the 1790s, such as the Commanding Royal Engineer’s Quarters, stables and magazines, as well as a loopholed rear defence wall and caponier. The fort was further developed throughout the 19th and into the 20th century. The fort was disarmed by c.1938.

Location

Grid reference Centred TQ 65293 74261 (147m by 203m)
Map sheet TQ67SE
Civil Parish GRAVESEND, GRAVESHAM, KENT
County KENT
District GRAVESHAM, KENT

Map

Find a placename, postcode or grid reference

Map layers

Base layers

Info

Record list

Tools

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

<1> DOE(HHR)Dist of Gravesham Kent Feb 1977 ADD. (OS Card Reference). SKE41323.

<2> Post Med Arch 12 1978 110 (VTC Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE48542.

<3> The Ind Arch of SE Eng 1978 42 (AJ Haselfoot) (OS Card Reference). SKE50369.

<4> A Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 9 (D Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE32808.

<5> Arch Cant 89 1974 141-68 (VTC Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE35971.

<6> Arch Cant 1975 209 (VTC Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE34799.

<7> Coast Defences of Eng and Wales 1856-1956 1974 105-6 (IV Hogg) (OS Card Reference). SKE39029.

<8> Saunders, Andrew, 1995, Thames fortifications during the 16th to 19th centuries (Article in monograph). SWX9358.

<9> Smith, V.T.C., 1995, The defences of the 20th century (Article in monograph). SWX9359.

<10> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<11> Recollections of eyewitnesses to the existence of a radio station (Miscellaneous Material). SKE14003.

<12> Victor Smith, 2013, New for old: The development of New Tavern Fort at Gravesend in the Industrial Age (Article in serial). SKE24819.

<13> Alan Ward, 2011, An archaeological watching brief at New Tavern Fort, Gravesend, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE17287.

<14> Kent Defence Research Group, c. 1993, Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs' (Unpublished document). SKE52251.

<15> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10287.

<16> 1944, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10071.

<17> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10288.

<18> Watson-Smyth, M. (ed.), 1993, Deserted Bastions - Historic Naval and Military Architecture (Monograph). SWX9394.

<19> Smith, V.T.C., 01/01/98, New Tavern Fort (published by Thames Defence Heritage, 1998) (Bibliographic reference). SKE14002.

<20> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD127 (Index). SWX11828.

<21> Admiralty, River Thames - Tilbury to Margaretness (Chart). SWX8504.

<22> 1941, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10116.

<23> Bullock, 1852, Gravesend Reach (Chart). SWX8140.

<24> 1941, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10117.

<25> Smith, V.T.C., 01/01/98, New Tavern Fort (Bibliographic reference). SKE13947.

<26> Historic England, Archive material associated with New Tavern Fort Schedule monument (Archive). SKE53899.

Sources/Archives (26)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: DOE(HHR)Dist of Gravesham Kent Feb 1977 ADD..
  • <2> OS Card Reference: Post Med Arch 12 1978 110 (VTC Smith).
  • <3> OS Card Reference: The Ind Arch of SE Eng 1978 42 (AJ Haselfoot).
  • <4> OS Card Reference: A Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 9 (D Bennett).
  • <5> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 89 1974 141-68 (VTC Smith).
  • <6> OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 1975 209 (VTC Smith).
  • <7> OS Card Reference: Coast Defences of Eng and Wales 1856-1956 1974 105-6 (IV Hogg).
  • <8> Article in monograph: Saunders, Andrew. 1995. Thames fortifications during the 16th to 19th centuries. 124-134.
  • <9> Article in monograph: Smith, V.T.C.. 1995. The defences of the 20th century. 135-143.
  • <10> Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001. Kent's Defence Heritage.
  • <11> Miscellaneous Material: Recollections of eyewitnesses to the existence of a radio station.
  • <12> Article in serial: Victor Smith. 2013. New for old: The development of New Tavern Fort at Gravesend in the Industrial Age. Arch Cant CXXXIII 2013: 131-166.
  • <13> Unpublished document: Alan Ward. 2011. An archaeological watching brief at New Tavern Fort, Gravesend, Kent.
  • <14> Unpublished document: Kent Defence Research Group. c. 1993. Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs'.
  • <15> Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 194. print.
  • <16> Photograph (Print): 1944. Photograph. 4001. print.
  • <17> Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 196. print.
  • <18> Monograph: Watson-Smyth, M. (ed.). 1993. Deserted Bastions - Historic Naval and Military Architecture.
  • <19> Bibliographic reference: Smith, V.T.C.. 01/01/98. New Tavern Fort (published by Thames Defence Heritage, 1998).
  • <20> Index: Kent County Council. 1999. Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites. KD127.
  • <21> Chart: Admiralty. River Thames - Tilbury to Margaretness. chart.
  • <22> Photograph (Print): 1941. Photograph. 2059. print.
  • <23> Chart: Bullock. 1852. Gravesend Reach. chart.
  • <24> Photograph (Print): 1941. Photograph. 2061. print.
  • <25> Bibliographic reference: Smith, V.T.C.. 01/01/98. New Tavern Fort.
  • <26> Archive: Historic England. Archive material associated with New Tavern Fort Schedule monument.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (4)

  • Non-Intrusive Event: Landscapes of War national recording project (Kent) (EKE20813)
  • Intrusive Event: NEW TAVERN FORT (Ref: EI 14953) (EKE3943)
  • Intrusive Event: Watching brief at New Tavern Fort, Gravesend (EKE11550)
  • Intrusive Event: Watching brief on works at New Tavern Fort, Gravesend (EKE12916)

Record last edited

Oct 4 2022 5:02PM