Tilbury Fort
Tilbury Fort
We were commissioned by English Heritage to prepare a conservation plan to guide future management and curation of one of the finest post-medieval fortifications in the UK.
Built on the site of a Tudor fortification, the present complex was constructed in 1670-85 by Sir Bernard de Gomme as part of a chain of defences to protect London from seaward attack.
Exceptionally well preserved, it is a highly evocative example of the geometric ‘bastion’ type of fortification developed in the seventeenth century. Military use ceased after the Second World War, and now the fort is maintained and opened to the public by English Heritage.
The Fort is notable for its rare surviving seventeenth century design, architectural features such as the Water Gate and Gunpowder Magazines, and aesthetic setting along the Thames. However, key historic views and physical links to the river had been compromised, particularly by the construction of a river wall in 1981–82. The site attracted around 14,000 visitors annually, but its interpretation, accessibility, and facilities require significant improvement.
Our conservation plan brought together fragmentary previous studies with new investigation and consultation, making extensive use of maps, drawings and diagrams to set out a comprehensive understanding of significance and a framework for its management. The Plan identified five management priorities: establishing a strong vision for the site’s future; enhancing its setting; resolving access and circulation issues (notably bridge closures over the Inner Moat); improving interpretation and presentation; and addressing urgent conservation needs.
These conservation policies focused on sustaining significance through controlled development, sensitive repair works, improved public access, and enhanced understanding via research and interpretation and advocated coordinated efforts to unlock Tilbury Fort’s full heritage potential and secure its long-term preservation as a unique site of national importance.
Client: English Heritage