Monument record TQ 87 SW 8 - Darnet Fort, Darnet Ness, Gillingham

Summary

Construction began on Darnet Fort in 1870, and it was completed and operational by 1872. The fort was disarmed and abandoned by the army before the First World War. It is round in plan with two floors and an open courtyard in the centre of the first floor. This level also housed elevated gun casements. The fort was not accessible during a 2004 coastal survey.

Location

Grid reference Centred TQ 8065 7073 (202m by 190m) FCE
Map sheet TQ87SW
County KENT
Civil Parish GILLINGHAM, MEDWAY, KENT
Unitary Authority MEDWAY

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Type and Period (2)

Full Description

(TQ 807707) Darnet Fort (dis) (NAT) (1) Darnet Fort, built in 1870, is round in plan with two floors with an open courtyard in the centre at the level of the first floor, out from which were placed the elevated casements for housing the guns. The fort was completed and operational by 1872, and was disarmed and abandoned by the army before the First World War. (2-3) Additional bibliography (4,5). Site photographs (6-17). For site in context with others in inter-tidal zone, see (18). In 2004, access to the Fort was prevented by the flooding of the associated defensive moat. (19)


<1> OS 1:10 000 1971 (OS Card Reference). SKE48136.

<2> The Medway Forts 1976 18-19 (K R Gulvin) (OS Card Reference). SKE50419.

<3> Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 (D Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE43668.

<4> Coast Defences of Eng and Wales 1856-1956 115 (IV Hogg) (OS Card Reference). SKE39028.

<5> Watson-Smyth, M. (ed.), 1993, Deserted Bastions - Historic Naval and Military Architecture (Monograph). SWX9394.

<6> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9513.

<7> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9576.

<8> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9844.

<9> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10336.

<10> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10369.

<11> 1975, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10606.

<12> 1965, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11198.

<13> 1965, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11199.

<14> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11200.

<15> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11201.

<16> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11203.

<17> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11205.

<18> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD100 (Index). SWX11828.

<19> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year One report (Unpublished document). SWX12121.

<20> Kent Defence Research Group, c. 1993, Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs' (Unpublished document). SKE52251.

Sources/Archives (20)

  • <1> OS Card Reference: OS 1:10 000 1971.
  • <2> OS Card Reference: The Medway Forts 1976 18-19 (K R Gulvin).
  • <3> OS Card Reference: Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 (D Bennett).
  • <4>XY OS Card Reference: Coast Defences of Eng and Wales 1856-1956 115 (IV Hogg). [Mapped feature: #481 Fort, ]
  • <5> Monograph: Watson-Smyth, M. (ed.). 1993. Deserted Bastions - Historic Naval and Military Architecture.
  • <6> Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 3125. print.
  • <7> Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4130. print.
  • <8> Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 3093. print.
  • <9> Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 71. print.
  • <10> Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 51. print.
  • <11> Photograph (Print): 1975. Photograph. BSU 15-19 tq796703/1. print.
  • <12> Photograph (Print): 1965. Photograph. TQ8070/1. print.
  • <13> Photograph (Print): 1965. Photograph. TQ8070/2. print.
  • <14> Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ8070/3. print.
  • <15> Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ8070/4. print.
  • <16> Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ8070/6. print.
  • <17> Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ8070/8. print.
  • <18> Index: Kent County Council. 1999. Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites. KD100.
  • <19> Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2005. North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year One report.
  • <20> Unpublished document: Kent Defence Research Group. c. 1993. Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs'.

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Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (3)

  • Event - Survey: 106G/UK/1444 (Ref: 353) (EWX6413)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: English Heritage: Hoo Peninsula Landscape Project NMP (EKE20812)
  • Non-Intrusive Event: Survey, North Kent Coastal Zone: Phase ll, Year One (Ref: 56750) (EWX8437)

Related Thematic Articles (1)

Record last edited

Oct 1 2021 1:35PM