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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 97 NW 109
Type of record:Monument
Name:The Sheerness Lines

Summary

Fortifications constructed between c1780 and the end of the 19th century


Grid Reference:TQ 91452 74984
Map Sheet:TQ97SW
Parish:SHEERNESS, SWALE, KENT

Monument Types

  • FORTIFICATION (Demolished in part since the 1960's, Post Medieval - 1783 AD to 1783 AD (post))
Protected Status:Scheduled Monument 1005145: Sheerness Defences; Scheduled Monument 1471141: Sheerness Defences: C19 gun emplacements and magazines and early-C20 gun towers, fire-control building and pillbox on the Centre Bastion

Full description

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Fortifications constructed between c1780 and the end of the 19th century. These comprise a continous linear work with bastions from the tip of the peninsula, southeast along the Thames, then west across the peninsula to the Medway, with Sheerness and the dockyard protected inside. The first phase of construction was completed by 1816, with a series of redesigns and expansions taking place in 1820s, and 1840s. The defences were also upgraded, to take breech loading and quick firing guns, at the end of the 19th century. A battery was added in 1905. The fortification were also upgraded for use during the First and Second World Wars. A field survey was carried out on the defences by RCHME survey staff in April 1993.

Part of the late 18th century expansion of the Sheerness defences. From 1783 to 1816 a new line of bastioned defences was constructed enclosing Blue Town.Until the 1960 the defences were complete. Since then development has led to the demolition of much of the defences although traces do remain and in places have been scheduled.

These form part of the system of bastioned earthworks enclosing the dockyards and Blue Town. Constructed in 1780 and 1796, they replaced the late 17th century defences. Ramparts unrevetted apart from within moat. Mostly in good condition but NE lines much altered in the 19th century and later. Scheduled. (The southernmost portion, No 2 & 3 bastions, not included in the scheduled area). (8,10, 6) A branch of the Deal line telegraph system had its terminus at Garrison Point, completed in 1796 (1-5)

In 1665 during the Second Dutch War extensive defence works were built at Sheerness and plans drawn up to build naval facilities adjacent to the fortification. In 1667 a Dutch raid destroyed the partially completed fort and dockyard. In August 1667 work began to rebuild it on a much larger scale. By the 1790s the landward defences of the fort were obsolete due to the presence of Blue Town on its flank. Construction of a 2nd outer defence system, encircling Blue Town on its landward side had therefore been started in the 1780s Fort Townsend, part of this system, existed in 1782. The obsolete defences were levelled and the land raised 6 ft, apart from a section along the shore facing the Thames, which was retained by the Board of Ordnance. (1-5).

Additional references (6-9). For site in context with other defence sites see (10).

From the National Heritage List for England:
Sheerness Lines: part of the lines of bastioned earthworks enclosed the enlarge dockyards and Blue Town. Constructed in 1780 and 1796 replacing the late 17th century defences. Ramparts unrevetted except within the area of the wet moat. The half bastion and curtain south of road in good condition with well preserved profile – banquette, ramps, etc. NE lines facing seawards have been much altered in the 19th century and later. General plan preserved including such features as a teraille. (11)

The development of the lines is described in detail in a report on the chracterisation of Sheerness produced in 2016. (12)


Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England, 1995, Sheerness: The Dockyard, Defences and Blue Town (Unpublished document). SWX6974.

<1> Old Telegraphs 1976 (G Wilson) 19 (OS Card Reference). SKE47868.

<2> Arch Cant 101 1984 245-76 plans (TM Harris) (OS Card Reference). SKE34557.

<3> Coastal Defences of Eng & W 1856-1956 (IV Hogg) 115-7 (OS Card Reference). SKE39038.

<4> DOE(IAM) Record Form Plan (OS Card Reference). SKE41446.

<5> The Medway Forts 1976 (KR Gulvin) plan 24-26 31 (OS Card Reference). SKE50418.

<6> Sheerness Defences, the Sheerness Lines/ink survey (Graphic material). SKE6433.

<7> Sheerness Defences, the Sheerness Lines/overlay (Graphic material). SKE6434.

<8> Sheerness Defences, the Sheerness Lines (Bibliographic reference). SKE6438.

<9> RCHME: Sheerness Defences, Kent (Collection). SKE6533.

<10> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD80 (Index). SWX11828.

<11> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England, 1995, Sheerness: The Dockyard, Defences and Blue Town (Unpublished document). SWX6974.

<12> Ramboll Environ, 2016, A characterisation of Sheerness, Kent, Project Report (Unpublished document). SKE31609.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
---Unpublished document: Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England. 1995. Sheerness: The Dockyard, Defences and Blue Town.
<1>OS Card Reference: Old Telegraphs 1976 (G Wilson) 19.
<2>OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 101 1984 245-76 plans (TM Harris).
<3>OS Card Reference: Coastal Defences of Eng & W 1856-1956 (IV Hogg) 115-7.
<4>OS Card Reference: DOE(IAM) Record Form Plan.
<5>OS Card Reference: The Medway Forts 1976 (KR Gulvin) plan 24-26 31.
<6>Graphic material: Sheerness Defences, the Sheerness Lines/ink survey. PER. PEN.
<7>Graphic material: Sheerness Defences, the Sheerness Lines/overlay. PER. PEN.
<8>Bibliographic reference: Sheerness Defences, the Sheerness Lines. PAP. TYP.
<9>Collection: RCHME: Sheerness Defences, Kent.
<10>Index: Kent County Council. 1999. Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites. KD80.
<11>Unpublished document: Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England. 1995. Sheerness: The Dockyard, Defences and Blue Town.
<12>Unpublished document: Ramboll Environ. 2016. A characterisation of Sheerness, Kent, Project Report.

Related records

TQ 97 NW 110Parent of: Centre Bastion, Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 111Parent of: Curtain battery (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 112Parent of: No 1 Bastion, Sheerness Lines, Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 SW 24Parent of: No 2 Bastion, Sheerness Lines, Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 SW 25Parent of: No 3 Bastion, Sheerness Lines, Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 SW 26Parent of: No 4 Bastion, Sheerness Lines, Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 15Parent of: The Ravelin, Sheerness Lines, Sheerness (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 3Part of: Sheerness defences (Monument)
TQ 97 NW 113Part of: The Indented Lines, Sheerness (Monument)

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