Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury, Thurrock, Essex |
|
Hover over the image for an enlargement |
|
This image is available to buy in the following sizes
(Prices include international shipping) |
10x30 cm (4x12 in) £16
21x63 cm (8x25 in) £28
33x99 cm (13x39 in) £46
|
|
Coalhouse Fort is a large Victorian coastal defence casemated fort set in parkland next to the river Thames at East Tilbury, Thurrock, Essex, 4 kilometres downstream from Tilbury Fort. Coalhouse Fort was completed in 1874, on the site of previous gun batteries, to defend the approaches to London from the perceived threat of invasion from France and other continental powers. The fort was built on low lying land in a curve of the river Thames and was positioned there to form a "triangle of fire" between Coalhouse Fort on the Essex bank of the river and Cliffe Fort and Shornmead Fort on the Kent bank. Coalhouse Fort is one of many such forts and batteries built in response to the recommendations of a Royal Commission of 1860 and are now referred to as Palmerston Forts. Over the years many of these forts have been demolished or radically altered but Coalhouse, although modified to take more modern armament, has kept much of its original architectural form. Coalhouse Fort is considered to be one of the finest examples of an armoured casemated fort in the United Kingdom. Because of the secrecy surrounding radar during World War II this structure was marked on maps as a 'water tower' to confuse the enemy and this 'decoy' name has been continued on maps up until recently.
|
|
