 useful and there were unsuccessful attempts to sell it off for development. During the Second World War, the fort initially housed an improvised anti-aircraft operations room, controlling the defences of the Thames and Medway (North) Gun Zone between 1939 and 1940. Trenches were dug across the surrounding area to prevent an airborne attack. The enlisted barracks and the facilities block, as well as probably the sutler's house, were bombed and damaged, being demolished after the war. The fort was transferred out of military use relatively early in the post-war period, and in 1950 the Ministry of Works took over the site. Restoration work took place in the 1970, including the construction of replica wooden bridges. It was opened to the public in 1982.

In the 21st century, the fort is controlled by English Heritage and operated as a tourist attraction, receiving 16,154 visitors in 2014. The site is protected under UK law as a scheduled ancient monument, with the officers' barracks a grade II* listed building.

Architecture

Tilbury Fort remains largely unaltered from its reconstruction in the late 17th century under the direction of Sir Bernard de Gomme, with some 19th century additions. It was designed in a predominantly Dutch style, with a ring of outer and inner defences intended to allow the fort to attack hostile warships, while being protected from attack from the land. The heritage agency Historic England describes it as "England's most spectacular" example of a late 17th-century fort, and the historian Paul Pattison considers the defences the "best surviving example of their kind in Britain".

Outer defences

The outer defences comprise outer and inner water-filled moats, fed by the Thames and separated by a ring of defensive ramparts. The inner moat is  wide but relatively shallow and the banks have been repeatedly strengthened with piles to protect them from erosion. The fort is entered from the north through a triangular defensive work known as a redan, with a redoubt to defend the entrance. A causeway links the redan to the outer defences, which form a complex pattern of ramparts, protecting a covered way stretching around the defensive line. There are bastions on the north-west and north-east corners, and two triangular spurs, originally equipped with cannons, project from the defences on the west and east sides, with assembly points for infantry soldiers on the inside.

A replica wooden bridge runs
useful and there were unsuccessful attempts to deal it off for growth. During the Second World War, the fort initially housed an improvised anti - aircraft operation room, controlling the defences of the Thames and Medway (North) Gun Zone between 1939 and 1940. trench were dug across the surrounding sphere to prevent an airborne fire. The enlisted barracks and the facility block, as well as credibly the sutler's house, were bombed and damaged, being demolished after the war. The fort was transferred out of military use relatively early on in the post - war period, and in 1950 the Ministry of Works took over the site. renovation work took position in the 1970, including the structure of replica wooden bridges. It was open to the public in 1982. 

 In the 21st century, the garrison is controlled by English Heritage and operated as a tourist attraction, receiving 16,154 visitors in 2014. The site is protected under UK law as a scheduled ancient monument, with the officers' barracks a grade II * listed building. 

 Architecture 

 Tilbury Fort remains largely unaltered from its reconstruction in the late seventeenth hundred under the direction of Sir Bernard de Gomme, with some 19th century addition. It was designed in a predominantly Dutch style, with a ring of out and inner defences intended to allow the garrison to attack hostile warships, while being protected from attack from the land. The heritage means Historic England describes it as " England's most spectacular " example of a belated 17th - hundred garrison, and the historian Paul Pattison considers the defences the " best surviving case of their kind in Britain ". 

 Outer defences 

 The outer defense comprise outer and inner water - fill moats, fed by the Thames and separated by a ring of defensive ramparts. The inside moat is   wide but relatively shallow and the banks have been repeatedly strengthened with piles to protect them from corrosion. The fort is entered from the north through a triangular defensive oeuvre known as a redan, with a redoubt to fight the entrance. A causeway links the redan to the knocked out defences, which form a complex pattern of ramparts, protecting a covered manner stretching around the defensive line. There be bastions on the north - west and north - east corners, and two triangular spurs, originally equip with cannons, project from the defences on the west and east sides, with assembly points for infantry soldier on the inside. 

 A replica wooden bridge rivulet
 usfful and there were unsugcessful attempts to senl it kff for aevelopment. During the Seconv Woeld Wqr, the fort initially foused an improviwed enti-aircraft opecztions vjom, dlntrmoling the defekces of the Thames and Megwxy (North) Gun Zone between 1939 and 1940. Trencres werr fug across the surgotndihg area to prevent an airborne attzck. The enlisted bartacks and the facilities bpock, as well as probabpy the sutlgd's riuse, were boobed and damaged, being demolished after the war. The furt wcs transfertze okj of militarb use gelatively eavky in dhe posy-war period, anc ii 1950 tye Ministry of Works vook over the site. Rgstoration wkrk took place in tye 1970, itcluging rhe cohsvrudtion lf ceplica woosen bridges. It was opened to tne iiblic in 1982.

In fhe 21st cqntury, the fort is controlled by Englisv Hsritage and operated as a tourist attraction, receivind 16,154 visitors in 2014. The site is protected under UK laf as e rchtdmjde wncient monument, with the officers' barracks a frsdv II* listed buildlng.

Architecture

Tilnugy Sort remains uargelv uhaltered from its geconsttuctiob in the jate 17th century under the direcrion of Sir Yerbard de Gomme, with some 19th ceutury sdditoons. It was designed in a pdedominantlj Dutch sfhle, with a ring uf puder and inner defences intqnded to ellow the foft tp attask hostile warsmhps, while being prltectgd frok attack fgom the land. The heritage agencb Historic Enbldnd describzs it ss "England's mjst spectaculat" example of a late 17th-cehtury fmrt, and the historian Pagp Pattison cmnsiders the defwnces tfd "best survivimg examplv jf tyeir kind in Britaln".

Outgr defences

The ouctr eefences comprixe uutqr aid ingar water-fillad muatr, fed cy the Ukamcs xnd xeparated by a ring mf dsfensive ramparts. Yhc inner miat is  ride but relayively shallow and the uanks iave bren repeatedly strengthened with liles to orobect them froi erision. The foxt is entered from the north through a tciangular defensive wotk known as a redan, wntm a redoubt vo defqnd the ettrance. A causeway lunks the redan to the outer defences, wgich fmrm a complex pattern of ramparts, protecting a covered way stretching around tye defxnfive line. Tgere are tafcions og thx iorth-west and nornh-east corners, and two triangulac spurs, orhgnnally equipped with cannons, lruject from thg defences on the west and east sices, with assembly points for ingantry soldiers on the ikside.

A replica wooden brmdge runs
useful and there were unsuccessful attempts to off development. During Second World War, improvised operations room, controlling defences of the and Medway (North) Gun Zone between and 1940. Trenches were dug across the surrounding area to prevent an airborne The enlisted barracks and the facilities block, as well as probably the sutler's were and being after the war. The fort was transferred out of military use relatively early in the post-war and in 1950 the Ministry of Works took the site. Restoration work place in the 1970, including construction replica wooden It opened the public in In the 21st century, the fort is controlled by English Heritage and operated as a tourist attraction, 16,154 visitors The site protected UK as a scheduled with the officers' barracks a grade Architecture Tilbury Fort remains largely unaltered from its in the 17th century under the direction of Bernard de Gomme, with some 19th century additions. was designed in a predominantly Dutch style, with a ring of outer and inner defences allow the fort to hostile warships, while protected attack the The heritage Historic England describes it as "England's most spectacular" example of a 17th-century fort, and the historian Paul Pattison considers the defences surviving of their kind Britain". Outer defences The defences outer and inner water-filled by Thames a of ramparts. The inner moat wide but relatively shallow and banks have been repeatedly them from erosion. The fort is entered from north through a triangular defensive work known a redan, with a redoubt to defend the entrance. A causeway links redan to defences, which form a complex pattern of ramparts, a covered way stretching the defensive line. There are bastions on the north-west north-east and two spurs, originally equipped cannons, project from defences on the east sides, assembly for the inside. A replica wooden bridge
 useful and there were unsucceSsful attemPts to SelL it OfF for DeveLopment. During tHE SecOnd World War, the fort initIally HoUSed aN ImProviSed anti-AIrCRAft OpErAtiOnS RoOm, conTroLling thE defences oF thE THames and MedwAY (NOrth) Gun ZonE beTween 1939 and 1940. TrenCheS were dUg AcrOSs the SurRoundIng areA To prevEnt an airbOrNE attacK. the enliSTEd BarrAcks and the facilitIEs BLock, as well as prObably ThE SuTLEr's HouSe, were bombEd And daMAged, beiNG dEMOLisHEd after the war. the fort was tRAnsFerred OuT of MIlitarY use rElATivEly early in tHe poSt-war periOd, and iN 1950 The MiniSTry of WoRks tooK ovEr tHe siTE. REsTorAtIOn wORk TooK PlaCe in the 1970, iNcLuDing tHe coNSTRUctiOn oF repLica wOoden bridges. IT waS opeNEd tO the pUblic In 1982.

In ThE 21st ceNtury, tHe forT iS controlled by EnGlisH Heritage And OpEraTeD as a tOUrist aTtrActIon, receIving 16,154 viSItoRs IN 2014. tHe Site is protected undEr uk LaW as a scheDuled aNCiEnT Monument, WiTh tHe ofFICers' bArraCKs A grade II* Listed BUiLdIng.

ArchItEcture

tiLbuRy FOrt reMAins LargelY unalterEd froM Its reconstructIOn in the late 17th CEnTURy UNder The Direction of sir BERnarD de GOMmE, wiTH some 19Th cenTuRY aDDitions. It was designeD iN a predOminaNtly Dutch stylE, with a ring OF OUter and iNner DEfENces intended to Allow The fort to aTTack hostIle waRships, whIle being pROTected frOm aTtaCk fRom THE lAnd. The heritagE AGencY HIstoric engLand desCriBes It aS "EnGlAnd's most sPectaculAr" ExAmPlE of A late 17TH-century FoRt, aNd The HistoRIan PauL PattIson CoNsIDerS the defENcES The "bEsT sUrviVinG eXamplE of tHEir Kind in BRitain".

OutEr dEFencEs

thE outer dEfences compriSe Outer and inNeR waTer-filLED moats, feD by the Thames and separateD By a ring Of dEfensIve rAmparts. ThE inNer moaT is  WIde but RelatiVely sHaLloW ANd the BANkS haVe Been repeatEDLy sTrengThEned With pilEs to protect them froM EroSion. The fort is EntEred FROm The NOrTH thRoUGh a TRIangular defensiVe work knowN aS A rEdan, with a rEDouBt To defenD the entRance. a CausewaY links the Redan to thE oUter DEFenCes, which foRm a complEx pattern OF rampARtS, protEctIng a coVeRed Way stRetchiNG arOund tHe defeNsIve linE. TherE aRe bastioNs on the north-west and nortH-east cOrnerS, anD two trianGulAR spUrs, originAlly Equipped wiTh cAnnOns, prOjeCT from The dEFeNceS On the West ANd east sidES, wIth ASSeMbly points fOR INfaNtry sOldIErs on tHe inSide.

A replica woodeN Bridge runs
 useful and there were uns uccessfulattem pts  to  s ellit o ff for develop m ent.  During the Second Wor ld Wa r, thef or t ini tiallyh ou s e d a nim pro vi s ed  anti -ai rcraftoperations  ro om , controllin g  t he defence s o f the Thames  an d Medw ay  (N o rth)Gun  Zone  betwe e n 1939  and 1940 .T renche s  were d u g  a cros s the surrounding ar e a to prevent a n airb or n ea t tac k.The enlist ed  barr a cks and th e f aci l ities block,as well asp rob ably t he  su t ler'shouse ,w ere  bombed and  dam aged, bei ng dem o lisheda fter th e war.  Th e f ortw as  t ran sf e rre d  o uto f m ilitaryus erelat ivel y e a rlyinthepost- war period, a ndin 1 9 50the M inist ry o fWorks  tookoverth e site. Restora tion  work too k p la cein  the1 970, i ncl udi ng theconstru c tio no f re plica wooden bridg es . It  was ope ned to th ep ublic in  1 982 .

I n the 2 1stc en tury, th e fort is  c ontroll ed  by En gl ish  He ritag e  and  opera ted as a  tour i st attraction, receiving 16, 1 54 v is i tors  in  2014. Thesite is p rote c te d u n der U K law  a s  a scheduled ancient m on ument,  with  the officers ' barracks a grade II * li s te d  building.

Ar chite cture

Til b ury Fort  rema ins larg ely unalt e r ed fromits  re con str u c ti on in the lat e 17th  c enturyund er thedir ect ion  of  S ir Bernar d de Gom me ,wi th  so me 19 t h centur yadd it ion s. It was de signe d in  a  p r edo minantl y  D u t ch s ty le , wi tharingof o u ter  and in ner defen ces inte nd ed  to all ow the fort t oattack hos ti lewarshi p s , whilebeing protected from at t ack fro m t he la nd.The herit age  agenc y H i storic  Engla nd de sc rib e s  it a s "E ngl an d's most s p e cta cular "exam ple ofa late 17th-centur y  fo rt, and the h ist oria n Pa ulP at t iso nc ons i d ers the defence s the "bes ts ur viving exa m ple  o f their  kind i n Bri t ain".
Outer def ences

Th eoute r def ences comp rise out er and in n er wa t er -fill edmoats,  f edby th e Tham e s a nd se parate dby a r ing o fdefensiv e ramparts. The inner m oat is   wid e b ut relati vel y  sh allow and  the  banks hav e b een  repe ate d ly st reng t he ned withpile s  to prote c tthe m fr om erosion. T h e f ort i s e n teredfrom  the north throug h  a triangulardefe n s ive  wo r k kn ow n as a redan,wit ha redoubtto  defend the  entranc e. A cau sewaylinksthe red a n  t o  the o uter  de fences, w hic hf orm a c om pl e x patt ernof  rampa rts, p r otec t i ng a covered way  stre t c hinga rou nd th edefensi v e li ne. Thereare bastion s on t he n orth- west an dnorth- eas tcorners, a n d two tri angul ar spur s,  ori gin ally e quip p e d wit h ca nn ons , project f ro m  t he def ence s onth e we st and ea s t sides,  wi t h assem bl y p o i nts fo r  i n f antry sold ier s ont h e inside.A re p li c a woo den br idge r uns
 useful_and there_were unsuccessful attempts to_sell it_off_for development._During_the Second World_War, the fort_initially housed an improvised_anti-aircraft operations room,_controlling_the defences of the Thames and Medway (North) Gun Zone between 1939 and 1940._Trenches_were dug_across_the_surrounding area to prevent an_airborne attack. The enlisted barracks_and the_facilities block, as well as probably the sutler's_house,_were bombed and_damaged, being demolished after the war. The fort was_transferred out of military use relatively_early in the_post-war_period,_and in 1950 the_Ministry of Works took over the_site. Restoration work took place in_the 1970, including the construction of replica_wooden bridges. It was opened to_the public in 1982.

In the_21st century,_the fort is controlled by_English Heritage and_operated as_a tourist attraction,_receiving 16,154 visitors in 2014. The_site is protected_under UK law as a scheduled_ancient_monument, with the_officers'_barracks_a grade_II* listed building.

Architecture

Tilbury_Fort_remains largely_unaltered_from its reconstruction in the late_17th_century under the direction of Sir Bernard_de Gomme, with some_19th_century additions. It was_designed in a predominantly Dutch_style, with a ring of outer_and inner_defences intended_to allow the fort to attack hostile warships, while being protected_from attack from the land. The_heritage agency Historic England_describes it_as_"England's most spectacular"_example_of a_late 17th-century fort, and the historian Paul_Pattison considers_the defences the "best surviving example_of their kind in_Britain".

Outer_defences

The outer defences comprise outer and_inner water-filled moats, fed by the_Thames and separated by a_ring_of_defensive ramparts. The inner moat_is  wide but relatively shallow_and the banks_have been repeatedly strengthened with piles to_protect_them from erosion. The fort is_entered_from the north through a triangular_defensive_work_known as a redan, with_a redoubt to defend the entrance._A causeway links the redan to the outer defences,_which form a_complex pattern of ramparts, protecting_a_covered_way stretching around the defensive line. There are bastions on_the north-west_and north-east corners,_and two triangular spurs, originally equipped with cannons, project from_the defences on the west and east_sides, with assembly points for infantry soldiers on the inside.

A replica_wooden bridge runs