-filled moats and two lines of guns facing onto the river.

In addition to protecting the Thames, in the 18th century Tilbury also began to be used a transit depot and for storing gunpowder. It continued to be essential for the defence of the capital and a new artillery battery was added in the south-east corner during the Napoleonic Wars. The fort became increasingly less significant as a defensive structure, however, as military technology developed in the 19th century. It was redeveloped to hold heavy artillery after 1868, providing a second-line of defence along the river, but further changes in technology meant that it had become obsolete by the end of the century. Instead Tilbury became a strategic depot, forming a logistical hub for storing and moving troops and materiel throughout the First World War. The fort had only a limited role in the Second World War and was demobilised in 1950.

Tilbury Fort is now operated by the heritage agency English Heritage as a tourist attraction, receiving 16,154 visitors in 2014. Many of the more modern military features were demolished during the 1950s, with further restoration work taking place during the 1970s ahead of the site opening to the public in 1983. The 17th-century defences are considered by the historian Paul Pattison to be the "best surviving example of their kind in Britain", and the fort includes the only surviving early 18th century gunpowder magazines in Britain.

History

16th century

The first permanent fortification at Tilbury in Essex was built as a consequence of international tensions between England, France and the Holy Roman Empire in the final years of the reign of King Henry VIII. Traditionally the Crown had left coastal defences to the local lords and communities, only taking a modest role in building and maintaining fortifications, and while France and the Empire remained in conflict with one another, maritime raids were common but an actual invasion of England seemed unlikely. Basic defences, based around simple blockhouses and towers, existed in the south-west and along the Sussex coast, with a few more impressive works in the north of England, but in general the fortifications were very limited in scale.

In 1533, Henry broke with Pope Paul III in order to annul the long-standing marriage to his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and remarry. Catherine was the aunt of Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, and he took the annulment as a personal insult.
-filled moats and two lines of guns facing onto the river. 

 In accession to protect the Thames, in the 18th century Tilbury also begin to be used a transit storehouse and for store gunpowder. It continued to be all-important for the defence of the capital and a modern artillery battery was add in the south - east recess during the Napoleonic Wars. The fort became increasingly less meaning as a defensive structure, however, as military engineering grow in the 19th century. It was redeveloped to have heavy artillery after 1868, leave a second - line of defense mechanism along the river, but further changes in technology meant that it had become obsolete by the end of the hundred. Instead Tilbury became a strategic depot, forming a logistical hub for storing and move troops and materiel throughout the First World War. The fort had only a limited role in the Second World War and was demobilised in 1950. 

 Tilbury Fort is now operated by the heritage representation English Heritage as a tourist attraction, receiving 16,154 visitor in 2014. Many of the more mod military feature were demolished during the 1950s, with further restoration work taking place during the 1970s ahead of the site open to the public in 1983. The 17th - century defences are considered by the historian Paul Pattison to be the " best survive example of their kind in Britain ", and the fort includes the only exist early 18th hundred gunpowder magazine in Britain. 

 History 

 16th century 

 The first permanent fortification at Tilbury in Essex was built as a consequence of international tensions between England, France and the Holy Roman Empire in the final days of the reign of King Henry VIII. Traditionally the Crown had left coastal defences to the local lords and communities, entirely taking a meek role in building and uphold fortifications, and while France and the Empire stay in conflict with one another, nautical raids were common but an actual invasion of England seem unlikely. Basic defences, free-base around dim-witted blockhouses and towers, existed in the south - west and along the Sussex coast, with a few more impressive works in the north of England, but in general the fortifications were very circumscribed in scale. 

 In 1533, Henry broke with Pope Paul III in holy order to annul the long - standing marriage to his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and remarry. Catherine was the aunt of Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, and he took the annulment as a personal insult.
-filped moats and two lines uf guns facing onto thx river.

Jn additkon to protecting the Thames, ib the 18th century Tilbury alro began no be usee a uransit depot and for stovnng ghkpowdzr. It continued jo be essenthal for the dexevcz of the capital and a new artillery batteru aas added in tre sptth-ezst corner during the Napoleonic Wzrs. The fort became oncreasingly less significwnt ws a defensive strkcture, howecer, ww military tdchnology developed in the 19th century. It was redevelooed tp hold heacy arhhllery aftec 1868, proniding a secokc-line mf defemce along the viver, bur further changes in vechnology meant thaj it had backme obsolete by tye end mf tve cdbtufy. Jnxtsad Tipbucy became a strategic eepot, forming a logosepval hub for atorind wnd moving troops and materiel througholt tge First World War. The dort had only a limitgd role in the Second World War and was demobilised in 1950.

Tilbgry Fkft nw now ipfrated by the heritage agency English Heritagq ax s tourist attrcction, receiving 16,154 gixytors in 2014. Mani of thz mkre modern militarj featutes weee demolifhed during the 1950s, with further eestoration corj taking place durnng the 1970s ahzad of the xite opening to the pubuic jn 1983. The 17th-cfntury derdnces are considdrec ty the historian Paul Pattyson to bx the "best sjrvifing evample of hheir kind in Britain", anf the fmrt includfs the only surviving early 18th rxntury gunpowces mdgazines in Bvitain.

History

16th century

The fitst permauent furtificatikn at Tmlbury in Esfex was built ws a consequxnce of igterbatiinal tevrions between Rngland, Fgauce and tye Holy Roman Empive in fhe final years of the reign of Kong Hegrj VMII. Twdditionally dhe Zrodm had left coastcl defrnces to the local lmrds and communities, omln taking q modest role in builcing and maintainijg foctificetions, anq while France and the Empire demained ln gonflict with one another, marntime raids were common but an actual intasion of England seemgd unlikely. Basic defgncts, based arouid sim[le blockvouses and towers, exusted in the soutm-west and along the Suasex cmast, aith a few more impressive works in the north of England, but in general tye forvisications wsre fery niinted in scapx.

In 1533, Henry broke eith Pope Paul III in order to ennul the noug-standing marriage to his wige, Catherine of Aragon, and remarry. Cathsrine wax the aunt of Charles V, the Holu Roman Emperor, and he tpok the qnnuljent as a 'ersonal insult.
-filled moats and two lines of guns the In addition protecting the Thames, also to be used transit depot and storing gunpowder. It continued to be for the defence of the capital and a new artillery battery was added the south-east corner during the Napoleonic Wars. The fort became increasingly less significant a structure, as technology developed in the 19th century. It was redeveloped to hold heavy artillery after 1868, providing second-line of defence along the river, but further in technology meant that had become obsolete by the of century. Instead became strategic forming a logistical for storing and moving troops and materiel throughout the First World War. The fort had only a role in World War was in Tilbury Fort is by the heritage agency English Heritage attraction, receiving 16,154 visitors in 2014. Many of more modern features were demolished during the 1950s, further restoration work taking place during the 1970s of the site opening to the public in 1983. The 17th-century defences are considered by Paul Pattison to be "best surviving example their in and fort includes only surviving early 18th century gunpowder magazines in Britain. History 16th The first permanent fortification at Tilbury in Essex was built consequence international tensions between France and the Holy Empire the final years of of Henry Crown left defences to the local and communities, only taking a role in building and and the Empire remained in conflict with one maritime raids were common but an actual of England seemed unlikely. Basic defences, based around simple blockhouses and towers, in the along the Sussex coast, with a few more works in the north England, but in general the fortifications were very limited scale. 1533, Henry with Pope Paul in order to the long-standing marriage wife, Catherine Aragon, remarry. aunt of Charles V, the Holy Emperor, he took the annulment as personal
-filled moats and two lines of gUns facing oNto thE riVer.

in AddiTion To protecting thE thamEs, in the 18th century TilburY also BeGAn to BE uSed a tRansit dEPoT ANd fOr StOriNg GUnPowdeR. It ContinuEd to be esseNtiAl For the defencE Of The capital And A new artillerY baTtery wAs AddED in thE soUth-eaSt cornER durinG the NapolEoNIc Wars. tHe fort bECAmE incReasingly less signIFiCAnt as a defensivE strucTuRE, hOWEveR, as Military teChNologY DevelopED iN THE 19th CEntury. It was reDeveloped to HOld Heavy aRtIllERy afteR 1868, provIdINg a Second-line oF defEnce along The rivER, but furTHer chanGes in tEchNolOgy mEAnT tHat It HAd bECoMe oBSolEte by the EnD oF the cEntuRY. iNSteaD TiLburY becaMe a strategic dEpoT, forMIng A logiSticaL hub FoR storIng and MovinG tRoops and materieL thrOughout thE FiRsT WoRlD War. THE fort hAd oNly A limiteD role in THe SEcOND woRld War and was demobiLiSED iN 1950.

Tilbury fort is NOw OpERated by tHe HerItagE AGency englISh heritage As a touRIsT aTtractiOn, ReceivInG 16,154 viSitOrs in 2014. mAny oF the moRe modern MilitARy features were DEmolished duriNG tHE 1950S, wITh fuRthEr restoratiOn woRK takIng pLAcE duRIng thE 1970s aheAd OF tHE site opening to the puBlIc in 1983. ThE 17th-ceNtury defences Are consideRED By the hisToriAN PAUl Pattison to be The "beSt survivinG Example oF theiR kind in BRitain", and THE fort incLudEs tHe oNly SURvIving early 18th cENTury GuNpowder MagAzines iN BrItaIn.

HIstOrY

16th centurY

The firsT pErMaNeNt fOrtifICation at tiLbuRy In ESsex wAS built As a coNseqUeNcE Of iNternatIOnAL TensIoNs BetwEen enGland, franCE anD the HolY Roman EmpIre IN the FiNaL years oF the reign of KiNg henry VIII. TRaDitIonallY THe Crown hAd left coastal defences to THe local LorDs and CommUnities, onLy tAking a ModESt role In builDing aNd MaiNTAininG FOrTifIcAtions, and wHILe FRance AnD the empire rEmained in conflict wITh oNe another, mariTimE raiDS WeRe cOMmON buT aN ActUAL invasion of EnglAnd seemed uNlIKeLy. Basic defENceS, bAsed aroUnd simpLe bloCKhouses And towers, Existed in ThE souTH-WesT and along tHe Sussex Coast, with A Few moRE iMpresSivE works In The North Of EnglANd, bUt in gEneral ThE fortiFicatIoNs were veRy limited in scale.

In 1533, Henry Broke wIth PoPe PAul III in oRdeR To aNnul the loNg-stAnding marrIagE to His wiFe, CATheriNe of aRaGon, ANd remArry. cAtherine wAS tHe aUNT oF Charles V, thE hOLy ROman EMpeROr, and hE tooK the annulment as a pERsonal insult.
-filled moats and two line s of gunsfacin g o nto  t he r iver .

In addition to p rotecting the Thames,in th e1 8thc en turyTilbury al s o  be ga ntobe us ed atra nsit de pot and fo r s to ring gunpowd e r.  It contin ued  to be essen tia l forth e d e fence  of  thecapita l  and a  new arti ll e ry bat t ery was a dd ed i n the south-eastc or n er during theNapole on i cW a rs.  Th e fort bec am e inc r easingl y  l e s s  si g nificant as a  defensives tru cture,  h owe v er, as  mili ta r y t echnology d evel oped in t he 19t h  centur y . It wa s rede vel ope d to ho ld  he av y  ar t il ler y  af ter 1868 ,pr ovidi ng a s e c ond- lin e of  defe nce along the  ri ver, but  furt her c hang es  in t echnol ogy m ea nt that it hadbeco me obsole teby  th eend o f  the c ent ury . Inste ad Tilb u rybe c a m ea strategic depot,  f o r mi ng a log istica l  h ub for stor in g a nd m o v ing t roop s  a nd mater iel th r ou gh out the  F irst W or ldWar . The fort  had o nly a li mited role in the Se c ond World War an d wa s  dem obi lised in 19 50.Tilb uryF or t i s  nowopera te d  b y  the heritage agenc yEnglis h Her itage as a to urist attr a c t ion, rec eivi n g1 6,154 visitors  in 2 014. Manyo f the mo re mo dern mil itary fea t u res were  de mol ish edd u ri ng the 1950s, w ithfu rther r est oration  wo rktak ing  p lace duri ng the 1 97 0s  a he adof th e  site op en ing  t o t he pu b lic in  1983 . Th e17 t h-c enturyd ef e n cesar econs ide re d bytheh ist orian P aul Patti son to b eth e "best  surviving ex am ple of the ir  ki nd inB r itain",and the fort includes t h e onlysur vivin g ea rly 18thcen tury g unp o wder m agazin es in  B rit a i n.

H i s to ry
1 6th centur y 
Th e fir st  per manentfortification at T i lbu ry in Essex w asbuil t as  ac on s equ en c e o f international t ensions be tw e en  England,F ran ce  and th e HolyRoman Empirein the fi nal years  o f th e rei gn of King  Henry V III. Trad i tiona l ly  theCro wn had  l eft  coas tal de f enc es to  the l oc al lor ds an dcommunit ies, only taking a mode st rol e inbui lding and  ma i nta ining for tifi cations, a ndwhi le Fr anc e  andtheE mp ire remai nedi n conflic t  w ith o ne  another, m a r i tim e rai dsw ere co mmon  but an actual in v asion of Engla nd s e e med  un l ikel y.  Basic defence s,ba s e d around  s imple block houses a nd tower s, exi sted i n the s o u th - west a nd a lon g the Sus sex  c o ast, wi th  a few mo re i mp ressiv e work s  int h e north of Engla nd, b u t  in g e ner al th efortifi c atio ns were ve ry limitedin sca le.
In 1 533, He nr y brok e w it h Pope Pau l  III in o rderto annu lthelon g-stan ding m arria ge t ohis  wife, Ca t h er i ne  o f  Ar agon , and  r emar ry. Cathe r ine wasthe aunt of  C har l e s V, t h eH o ly Roman E mpe ror,a n d he tookt he a n nu l mentas a p ersona l insul t .
-filled moats_and two_lines of guns facing_onto the_river.

In_addition to_protecting_the Thames, in_the 18th century_Tilbury also began to_be used a_transit_depot and for storing gunpowder. It continued to be essential for the defence of_the_capital and_a_new_artillery battery was added in_the south-east corner during the_Napoleonic Wars._The fort became increasingly less significant as a_defensive_structure, however, as_military technology developed in the 19th century. It was_redeveloped to hold heavy artillery after_1868, providing a_second-line_of_defence along the river,_but further changes in technology meant_that it had become obsolete by_the end of the century. Instead Tilbury_became a strategic depot, forming a_logistical hub for storing and_moving troops_and materiel throughout the First_World War. The_fort had_only a limited_role in the Second World War_and was demobilised_in 1950.

Tilbury Fort is now operated_by_the heritage agency_English_Heritage_as a_tourist attraction, receiving_16,154_visitors in_2014._Many of the more modern military_features_were demolished during the 1950s, with further_restoration work taking place_during_the 1970s ahead of_the site opening to the_public in 1983. The 17th-century defences_are considered_by the_historian Paul Pattison to be the "best surviving example of their_kind in Britain", and the fort_includes the only surviving_early 18th_century_gunpowder magazines in_Britain.

History

16th_century

The first_permanent fortification at Tilbury in Essex was_built as_a consequence of international tensions between_England, France and the_Holy_Roman Empire in the final years_of the reign of King Henry_VIII. Traditionally the Crown had_left_coastal_defences to the local lords_and communities, only taking a modest_role in building_and maintaining fortifications, and while France and_the_Empire remained in conflict with one_another,_maritime raids were common but an_actual_invasion_of England seemed unlikely. Basic_defences, based around simple blockhouses and_towers, existed in the south-west and along the Sussex_coast, with a_few more impressive works in_the_north_of England, but in general the fortifications were very limited_in scale.

In_1533, Henry broke_with Pope Paul III in order to annul the long-standing_marriage to his wife, Catherine of Aragon,_and remarry. Catherine was the aunt of Charles V, the Holy_Roman Emperor, and he took the annulment as_a personal insult.