Tilbury Fort
Tilbury Fort
Tilbury Fort, on the banks of the River Thames in Essex, is one of the finest post-medieval fortifications in the UK. The site is protected under UK law as a scheduled ancient monument, with the officers' barracks a Grade II* listed building.
We were commissioned by its owners English Heritage to prepare a conservation plan to guide future management and curation. 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 C17. Military use ceased after WWII, and now the fort is maintained and opened to the public by English Heritage.
Our conservation plan brings 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. Special emphasis is given to the setting of the Fort, which is sensitive to the expansion of the adjacent Tilbury Docks.
Client: English Heritage