[Area TQ 652 743] Milton Blockhouse was built in 1539 "on the piece of land called the Chapel Field, probably because of its continguity to the ancient Chapel or Chantry of Milton". [See TQ 67 S.E.1]. The blockhouse shown on a map of 1588, has disappeared, but during excavation work in 1826 for the setting up of a boundary mark of the Port of London, bricks similar to those used in Gravesend Blockhouse [TQ 67 SW 77] were found. (1-3)

No further information. (4)

Additional bibliography. (5-6)

Excavations were carried out by the Kent Defence Research Group at intervals during 1974-8. The purpose of the excavations was to verify identification and to recover a basic plan which could be compared with the D-shaped Gravesend and Tilbury blockhouses, the plans of which were the only ones previously known of the five Thames blockhouses. The excavations revealed a plan suggesting an angle bastion, presumably flanked by another to the west, of which remains might still exist under Canal Road. The latter concealed the front of the building. The angle bastion design represented in the excavated foundations had not yet appeared in England in 1539/40 and the Milton bastion must be a later addition to the original blockhouse, strengthening the landward side. The original blockhouse, of uncertain plan (but conceivably D-shaped like the Gravesend and Tilbury blockhouses) lies presumably to the front under Canal Road. (7)

Additional bibliography. (8-11)

Additional bibliography (not consulted). (12).

Field monument report [13].

Additional ref, setting in context with other Thames defences (14).

Additional bibliography [15-17].

Photographs [18-19].

Desk based assessment. Reports that the blockhouse was improved in 1545 and demolished between 1557-8 [20].

<01> "Hist. of Gravesend" 1843, 161-4 (R.P. Cruden) (OS Card Reference). SKE32641.

<02> Royal Engineers Jour, 23, 1916, 207-8 (A.A. Cookshank) (OS Card Reference). SKE49339.

<03> Map of R. Thames, 1588 (R.Adam) Scale approx. 1" = 1 mile. (OS Card Reference). SKE46531.

<04> F1 CFW 28-NOV-64 (OS Card Reference). SKE42800.

<05> Kent Arch Rev 36 1974 173-174 (V Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE45769.

<06> Arch Cant 89 1974 141-168 (VTC Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE35970.

<07> Arch Cant 96 1980 341-362 (VTC Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE36246.

<08> Hist of the King's Works 4 2 1982 602-3 (HM Colvin) (OS Card Reference). SKE44041.

<09> Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 9 (D Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE43683.

<10> Arch Cant 91 1975 200 208 (VTC Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE36044.

<11> Post Med Arch 12 1978 110 (VTC Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE48542.

<12> Oxon Arch Unit N/L 8 4 July 1981 (OS Card Reference). SKE48440.

<13> Field report for monument TQ 67 SE 32 - November, 1964 (Bibliographic reference). SKE3625.

<14> Saunders, Andrew, 1995, Thames fortifications during the 16th to 19th centuries (Article in monograph). SWX9358.

<15> Smith, V., 1974, Tudor Blockhouse at Gravesend, p.173-4 (Article in serial). SWX7675.

<16> Soder S. Smith L. & Smith V., 2000, Canal Basin Gravesend: An Archaeological Desk Study of the Canal Basin and Wider Canal Area Proposed for Redevelopment (Unpublished document). SKE11946.

<17> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD126 (Index). SWX11828.

<18> FROM SOUTH (BUILDING DATED TO 1539) Types: BLOCKHOUSE(MILITARY) (Photograph). SKE397.

<19> FROM SOUTH SOUTH WEST Types: BLOCKHOUSE(MILITARY) (Photograph). SKE398.

<20> Scott Wilson, The Embankment, Gravesend Archaeological Impact Assessment Sub-Phase 1 (Unpublished document). SKE12518.