[Centred TQ 796 702] Hoo Fort [NAT] (1) [TQ 797 703] Hoo Fort, Hoo St. Werbergh (2). Built as a result of the Royal Commission of 1860 recommendations for fortifying the Medway. Hoo Fort, and its twin river fort to the NE, Fort Darnet (see TQ 87 SE 8), were completed by 1872 (see plan). By this time forts with guns in armoured casemates had become common. The original plans were modified because the weight of the guns proved too much for the marshy ground. A circular, single tier, casemated for eleven guns, with magazines in the basement and living accommodation behind the guns. There is an open courtyard at first floor level. Basically sound but fittings have decayed, although the gate mechanism is in position. Visited May 1963. Scheduled (3-5). Scheduled Listing 193 (6). Brief note and location plan (7,8). Aerial photo (9). Site marked on chart (10). Additional reference in context of military architecture and other defence sites (11,12) and site photographs (13-21).

"This was one of two circular ‘island’ forts built in the Medway in the 1860s to defend the river approaches to Chatham Dockyard. It was constructed of radial granite-faced gun casemates with iron shields, having underlying magazines and accommodation arranged round a concrete drum whose top formed a small parade. The rear parts of the gun casemates were also prepared for use in war as barrack accommodation." (22)

Additional information (23-24)

<1> OS 1:10000 1976 (OS Card Reference). SKE48161.

<2> DOE(IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 112 (OS Card Reference). SKE41414.

<3> DOE(IAM) Record Form Plan (OS Card Reference). SKE41446.

<4> Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-45 1977 (D Bennett) 10-13 (OS Card Reference). SKE43686.

<5> Coastal Defences of Eng and Wales 1856-1956 (IV Hogg) 115 (OS Card Reference). SKE39040.

<6> The Medway Forts 1976 (KR Gulvin) 18 19 (OS Card Reference). SKE50416.

<7> DOE(IAM) SAMs 1988 Kent 16 (OS Card Reference). SKE41451.

<8> P Med Arch 10 1976 104-5 (VTC Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE48443.

<9> Fulford, M, Champion, T & Long, A (eds), England's coastal heritage. A survey for English Heritage and the RCHME, Photo p 88 (Monograph). SWX9352.

<10> Dawson, 1906, Hoo Fort (Chart). SWX8325.

<11> Watson-Smyth, M. (ed.), 1993, Deserted Bastions - Historic Naval and Military Architecture (Monograph). SWX9394.

<12> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD101 (Index). SWX11828.

<13> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9845.

<14> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10370.

<15> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10400.

<16> 1975, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10606.

<17> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11182.

<18> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11183.

<19> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11184.

<20> 1994, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11188.

<21> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9575.

<22> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<23> Kent Defence Research Group, c. 1993, Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs' (Unpublished document). SKE52251.

<24> English Heritage, Register of Scheduled Monuments (Scheduling record). SKE16191.