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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 87 SW 8
Type of record:Monument
Name:Darnet Fort, Darnet Ness, Gillingham

Summary

Construction began on Darnet Fort in 1870, and it was completed and operational by 1872. The fort was disarmed and abandoned by the army before the First World War. It is round in plan with two floors and an open courtyard in the centre of the first floor. This level also housed elevated gun casements. The fort was not accessible during a 2004 coastal survey.


Grid Reference:TQ 8065 7073
Map Sheet:TQ87SW
Parish:GILLINGHAM, MEDWAY, KENT

Monument Types

  • FORT (Post Medieval to Modern - 1870 AD to 1945 AD (between))
  • OBSERVATION POST (Modern - 1939 AD to 1945 AD)
Protected Status:Scheduled Monument 1129341: FORT DARNET, DARNET NESS; Scheduled Monument KENT 194

Full description

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(TQ 807707) Darnet Fort (dis) (NAT) (1) Darnet Fort, built in 1870, is round in plan with two floors with an open courtyard in the centre at the level of the first floor, out from which were placed the elevated casements for housing the guns. The fort was completed and operational by 1872, and was disarmed and abandoned by the army before the First World War. (2-3) Additional bibliography (4,5). Site photographs (6-17). For site in context with others in inter-tidal zone, see (18). In 2004, access to the Fort was prevented by the flooding of the associated defensive moat. (19)


<1> OS 1:10 000 1971 (OS Card Reference). SKE48136.

<2> The Medway Forts 1976 18-19 (K R Gulvin) (OS Card Reference). SKE50419.

<3> Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 (D Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE43668.

<4> Coast Defences of Eng and Wales 1856-1956 115 (IV Hogg) (OS Card Reference). SKE39028.

<5> Watson-Smyth, M. (ed.), 1993, Deserted Bastions - Historic Naval and Military Architecture (Monograph). SWX9394.

<6> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9513.

<7> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9576.

<8> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9844.

<9> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10336.

<10> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10369.

<11> 1975, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10606.

<12> 1965, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11198.

<13> 1965, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11199.

<14> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11200.

<15> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11201.

<16> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11203.

<17> 1986, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX11205.

<18> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD100 (Index). SWX11828.

<19> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year One report (Unpublished document). SWX12121.

<20> Kent Defence Research Group, c. 1993, Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs' (Unpublished document). SKE52251.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>OS Card Reference: OS 1:10 000 1971.
<2>OS Card Reference: The Medway Forts 1976 18-19 (K R Gulvin).
<3>OS Card Reference: Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 (D Bennett).
<4>XYOS Card Reference: Coast Defences of Eng and Wales 1856-1956 115 (IV Hogg). [Mapped feature: #481 Fort, ]
<5>Monograph: Watson-Smyth, M. (ed.). 1993. Deserted Bastions - Historic Naval and Military Architecture.
<6>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 3125. print.
<7>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4130. print.
<8>Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 3093. print.
<9>Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 71. print.
<10>Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 51. print.
<11>Photograph (Print): 1975. Photograph. BSU 15-19 tq796703/1. print.
<12>Photograph (Print): 1965. Photograph. TQ8070/1. print.
<13>Photograph (Print): 1965. Photograph. TQ8070/2. print.
<14>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ8070/3. print.
<15>Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ8070/4. print.
<16>Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ8070/6. print.
<17>Photograph (Print): 1986. Photograph. TQ8070/8. print.
<18>Index: Kent County Council. 1999. Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites. KD100.
<19>Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2005. North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year One report.
<20>Unpublished document: Kent Defence Research Group. c. 1993. Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs'.

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