Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

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, but the casements (internal structures) remain. Until recently the redoubt was used as a small factory.

Monument Types

• BASTION OUTWORK (Post Medieval to Modern - 1885 AD? to 2000 AD? (between))
• ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTERY (Modern - 1914 AD to 1918 AD)

Full description

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[TQ 796 681] Woodlands Redoubt, 1890. Infantry redoubt of 1890. (1)
The Royal Commission of 1860 recommended that forts be built at Grange and Woodland to mount thirty guns and contain a garrison of three hundred men. However, it appears that government expense cuts resulted in the construction of only small, experimental redoubts. Woodlands 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 would have been a parade or yard facing onto which were constructed a line of small casements serving as stores, magazines and accomodation for the defending garrison. At Woodlands Redoubt the casements comprise thirteen rooms in a line protected to the front against enemy fire by an earthen glacis. 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 moats being practically filled in but the casements at Woddlands remain and the open gateways. Until recently (1976), Woodlands Redoubt was used as a small factory. (2)
Additional bibliography. The Redoubt has been severely damaged (1994) [3 and 4].
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English Heritage, 2013, Grange and Woodlands Redoubts, Twydall, Scheduling Assessment (Unpublished document).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, Thames Gateway Assesment: Gazetteer of Defence Sites (Index). SKE6445.

<4> 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.

<5> Kent Defence Research Group, c. 1993, Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs' (Unpublished document). SKE52251.

Sources and further reading

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