Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury

Coalhouse Fort was built in 1861 as a result of the Royal Commission of the country's defences. It is of a similar design to Cliffe and Shornemead forts, located directly opposite across the Thames Estuary. It takes the form of a crescent of large, granite faced casemates facing the Thames, with a parade ground and brick built barracks behind. The Fort's casemates were originally armed with 11-inch and 9-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading Guns and later Quick Firing and Breech Loading Guns. Magazines for the guns were located directly below and a passage runs below the whole length of the casemates. During WW2, the fort continued to be armed and was used as a degaussing station to prevent magnetic mines attaching to ships, searchlight placements were also built on the roof.

Coalhouse Fort remains in good condition, and is opened by the Coalhouse Fort Volunteers on a number of days each year. The pictures below of the barrack rooms were from a special tour with Underground Kent in 2006, and due to rapid deterioration since they are not currently accessible.

Plan of Coalhouse Fort

Exterior of the Casemates

Entrance to the Fort

View across the parade ground

View along the casemates

Gun inside one of the casemates

Tunnels linking the magazines below

Another view in the tunnels

Caponnier

Shell lift
Slate urinals

View along the top level of the fort

View along the barracks

Royal Artillery emblem on barrack room

More regimental emblems

Old range still in place

Looking up to the top level

View across the top level