Grain Fort, Isle of Grain

Grain Fort was built during the 1860s on the Isle of Grain to protect the mouth of the river Medway. It was constructed with a crescent shaped keep, which formed the casemated barracks and entrance to the fort. A raised earth bank behind this formed the terreplein, which was mounted with Rifled Muzzle Loading guns in large gun pits. The fort was protected by a surrounding dry ditch that was flanked by four caponniers. Guns continued to be mounted on the fort throughout WW1 and WW2, and it finally left army hands in the 1950s. Unfortunately, during the 1960s the fort was demolished, leaving only the underground sections. The site has never been developed, and it is open land, the shape of the gun positions and a wall here and there are the only reminders of this once impressive fort. The tunnels, which led to the trucanted caponniers and main magazine, still remain and were accessible some years ago; however it appears they have now been filled in.

The remains of the fort are on open land and can be visited with some parts still recognisable, although the underground sections have now been buried.

The original plans give some idea to what is buried at this site

Gun positions

Barracks

Casemates

View across the fort from the terreplein
One of the two surviving walls of the fort
One of the gun positions, with Grain Tower in the distance
Inside the Eastern tunnels
Chicane drawbridge

Shell hoist

The main magazine

Tunnel

Inside one of the West caponnier tunnels

Long passageLooking back to turn in passage

Looking towards junction in the tunnel

Looking down another tunnelThe sealed entrance into the fort

Fort Burgoyne, Dover

This fort was built in the 1860s, after the Royal Commission of the country's defences. At this time the fortifications around the main naval bases and ports were strengthened. In Dover, this included an upgrade of the Western Heights and Dover Castle's defences. A conceived weak spot of the Castle was the North Spur, and a new fort, named 'Castle Hill Fort' was planned and built. It later became known as Fort Burgoyne, and was constructed as a polygonal structure, with a surrounding ditch, flanked by three demi-caponniers and a double caponnier to the North. Two detached wing batteries to the East and West of the main fort were also constructed in spurs off the main ditch. The main fort comprised a large parade ground, to the North of which was a long row of casemates, which provided the barrack accomodation for soldiers and officers. Above the casemates, on the terreplein, were Haxo Casemates, which housed the guns. The fort remained within the Connaught Barracks garrison area until recent years, which has meant that the interior is well presevered, the ditch is very choked with vegetation, however. It is unknown what the future holds for the fort, as the now vacant barracks are to be converted into accommodation.


UPDATE: November 2015 - The fort is now in the hands of the Landmark Trust, who have begun restoration / clearance work and hope to open it to the public in the future.

Plan, showing the fort and its two wing batteries. 

Entrance bridge to the fort

 View across the the terreplein

Inside a casemate

View across the parade ground

 Casemates at ditch level

 

Side elevation of the Caponnier

Elevation of a barrack room

Soldiers' quarters on the parade ground, looking East
Looking West
This passage leads to a fortified area above the double caponnier

View of the lower level of one set of Officers' Quarters

Inside one of the rooms

Window frames in excellent condition

Stairs up to the upper level

Passage on the upper level

One of the casemated barack roomCaponnier from the ditch

View of the sally port in the ditch
Gallery leading to caponier from the parade ground

Gun ports on the lower level
Gun ports on upper level, with iron shutter intact

Gun ports on the Left Flank Caponnier

Gate leading from parade ground to gallery

Upper level of caponnier

Musketry gallery on the lower level
Looking up to upper level of caponnier
This gives an idea of the height of this structure
Gun ports on the lower level