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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 76 NE 83
Type of record:Monument
Name:Grange Redoubt, Twydall, east of Gillingham

Summary

Infantry Redoubt c.1890; Part of the Chatham Ring Fortress. An experimental redoubt, originally intended to be built as one of two at Grange and Woodland. These were to house thirty guns and contain a garrison of three hundred men but were downsized due to expense cuts. Grange Redoubt was surrounded by a dry ditch and would have had a drawbridge. Stores, magazines and accomodation surrounded a parade ground. The fort is only thought to have been able to offer small arms fire as there were no apparent positions from which heavy artillery could have been fired. The redoubt is in a damaged state, the moat is practically filled in, and now used as an agricultural equipment store.


Grid Reference:TQ 7979 6847
Map Sheet:TQ76NE
Parish:GILLINGHAM, MEDWAY, KENT

Monument Types

  • BASTION OUTWORK (Post Medieval to Modern - 1890 AD? to 2000 AD? (between))

Full description

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[TQ 798 686] Grange Redoubt. Infantry redoubt of 1890. (1)
The Royal Commission of 1860 recommended that forts be built at Grange and Woodland to house thirty guns and contain a garrison of three hundred men. However, it appears that expense cuts resulted in the construction of only experimental redoubts. Grange Redoubt was surrounded by a dry ditch and would have had a drawbridge which could have been raised to form a shield in the absence of gates. A few yards back from the gateway is the parade or yard, facing onto which were constructed a line of small casements which would have served as stores, magazines and accomodation for the defending garrison. There were no apparent positions from which artillery could have been fired, so it would appear that the fort could offer only small arms fire. The redoubt is in a damaged state, the moat being practically filled in. Grange Redoubt is used as an agricultural equipment store (1976). (2)
The front rampart and ditch survive (1994) [3].
Part of the Chatham Ring Fortress (TQ 76 NE 398).


English Heritage, 2013, Grange and Woodlands Redoubts, Twydall, Scheduling Assessment (Unpublished document). SKE31635.

<1> A Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 13 (D Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE32804.

<2> The Medway Forts: A Short Guide 1976 17-18 (K R Gulvin) (OS Card Reference). SKE50427.

<3> Victor Smith and Ron Crowdy, 1994, From Tudor Rose to Mushroom Cloud. The Gazetter of Defence Heritage Sites in the Kentish Part of the Thames Gateway. An Overview (Unpublished document). SKE12458.

<4> Kent Defence Research Group, c. 1993, Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs' (Unpublished document). SKE52251.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
---Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2013. Grange and Woodlands Redoubts, Twydall, Scheduling Assessment.
<1>XYOS Card Reference: A Handbook of Kent's Defences 1540-1945 1977 13 (D Bennett). [Mapped feature: #22240 fort, ]
<2>OS Card Reference: The Medway Forts: A Short Guide 1976 17-18 (K R Gulvin).
<3>Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Ron Crowdy. 1994. From Tudor Rose to Mushroom Cloud. The Gazetter of Defence Heritage Sites in the Kentish Part of the Thames Gateway. An Overview.
<4>Unpublished document: Kent Defence Research Group. c. 1993. Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs'.

Related records

TQ 76 NE 398Part of: The Chatham Ring Fortresses (Monument)