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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 77 NW 25
Type of record:Monument
Name:Cliffe Fort, Cliffe

Summary

One of four forts constructed in the 1860s to defend the lower Thames: a casemated fort for 8 guns. Converted by Brennan in 1885 to a torpedo station. The torpedo station had been dismantled by World War I, but light guns remained until after World War II. The fort was built of roughly hewn stone blocks and brick with a moat and earthworks on the seaward side. The fort now stands derelict, mostly just a shell with few remaining structural elements.

Grid Reference:TQ 706 767
Map Sheet:TQ77NW
Parish:CLIFFE AND CLIFFE WOODS, MEDWAY, KENT

Monument Types

  • FORT (Post Medieval to Modern - 1860 AD to 2050 AD)
  • COASTAL BATTERY (Modern - 1914 AD to 1945 AD)
Protected Status:Scheduled Monument 1003403: Cliffe Fort

Full description

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[TQ 707 767] Cliffe Fort (disused) [NAT] (1) [TQ 707 767] Cliffe Fort. (2) Built as a result of the Royal Commission of 1860 recommendations, one of four forts constructed in the 1860s and thought to have been occupied until 1920. Armed, originally, with R.M.L. guns, in 1885 part of the fort was adapted as a torpedo station. This was one of several designed by Louis Brennan but is the only one in Kent of which any trace exists (see also TQ 97 NW 3). By 1905 roof positions had been added. Although the torpedo station had been dismantled by World War I, light guns remained until after World War II. Built of roughly-hewn stone blocks outside and brick inside with a moat and earthworks on the seaward side. The fort now stands derelict and the domestic range is in ruinous condition but the rest is structurally sound with some noteworthy original ironwork. Visited September 1972 (3). Scheduled (3) (3-5).

Additional index entries and references from relevant site reports (6-8). Mentioned in context with other Thames defences (9,10). Additional reference (11-16). Site photographs (17-56). Site now disused and is shell. Soft mud and standing water inside. Some vegetation growing inside and from parts of the structure of the fort. Still roofed around the casemates with what look like later WW2 additions to the structure. None of the windows or doors appear to be in place. Most of the structure seems to have bee stripped or decayed into a shell. Some debris in the inner area of the fort. Now owned by Brett Aggregates and sealed off as an unsafe structure. From outside there appears to be some cracking in the stone façade, probably due to subsidence the ground in and around the fort appears very waterlogged, particularly closer to the river. Access into the fort negotiated for the 2005 coastal survey for a quick assessment of the condition of the fort. (57)

This feature is recorded in the English Heritage Historic Area Assessment for Cliffe Parish. The report states:
"Notwithstanding the arrival of soldiers to man Cliffe Fort, constructed at Cliffe Creek in the late 1860s as part of a triangle of first line Thames defences [growth of population largely due to cement workings]…Being the first place upstream where the river begins to narrow, Lower Hope Reach was a key place to repel enemy warships, a strategic importance embodied in the grey and brooding mass of the D-shaped Cliffe Fort, prominent in the estuarine landscape. The launch rails for the Brennan Torpedo station which was installed in 1890 can be seen at low water. " (58)

Historic England Research Report 015-2011 (59)


<1> OS 1:10000 1980 (OS Card Reference). SKE48166.

<2> DOE(IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 111 (OS Card Reference). SKE41413.

<3> DOE(IAM) plan 01.07.71 (OS Card Reference). SKE41424.

<4> Handbook of Kent's defences 1540-45 1977 5-11 (D Bennett) (OS Card Reference). SKE43687.

<5> The Medway Forts 1976 20-1 (KR Gulvin) (OS Card Reference). SKE50421.

<6> Coastal Defences of Eng 1856-1956 108-110 (IV Hogg) (OS Card Reference). SKE39039.

<7> KAR 24 1971 116-18 (VTC Smith) (OS Card Reference). SKE45274.

<8> RCHME: Cliffe Fort, Kent (Collection). SKE6542.

<9> Saunders, Andrew, 1995, Thames fortifications during the 16th to 19th centuries (Article in monograph). SWX9358.

<10> Kent County Council, 1999, Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites, KD23 (Index). SWX11828.

<11> Cliffe Fort Brennan Torpedo Station - Launching bays/survey (Graphic material). SKE6376.

<12> Cliffe Fort Brennan Torpedo Station/profile (Graphic material). SKE6377.

<13> Cliffe Fort Brennan Torpedo Station - North Launching Bay/profile (Graphic material). SKE6378.

<14> Cliffe Fort Brennan Torpedo Station - South Launching Bay/profile (Graphic material). SKE6379.

<14> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England, 1993, Cliffe Fort, Brennan Torpedo Launching Bays (Monograph). SWX6969.

<16> Watson-Smyth, M. (ed.), 1993, Deserted Bastions - Historic Naval and Military Architecture (Monograph). SWX9394.

<17> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9635.

<18> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9636.

<19> 1947, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9858.

<20> 1941, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10110.

<21> 1941, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10111.

<22> 2000, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10273.

<23> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10953.

<24> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10954.

<25> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10955.

<26> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10956.

<27> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10957.

<28> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10958.

<29> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10959.

<30> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10960.

<31> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10962.

<32> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10963.

<33> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10964.

<34> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10965.

<35> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10966.

<36> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10967.

<37> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10968.

<38> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10969.

<39> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10970.

<40> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10971.

<41> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10972.

<42> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10976.

<43> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10977.

<44> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10979.

<45> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10980.

<46> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10981.

<47> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10982.

<48> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10983.

<49> 1993, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10984.

<50> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10985.

<51> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10986.

<52> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10987.

<53> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10988.

<54> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10989.

<55> 1979, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX10990.

<56> 1946, Photograph (Photograph (Print)). SWX9425.

<57> Wessex Archaeology, 2005, North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report (Unpublished document). SWX12323.

<58> historic england, 2014, Hoo Peninsula Outline Historic Area Assessment: Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Parish. Research Report 2014-54 (Bibliographic reference). SKE31591.

<59> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2008, Sweyne County Primary School, Swanscombe. Field evaluation (Palaeolithic) DRAFT (now Manor Community Primary School) (Unpublished document). SKE30741.

<60> 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 1:10000 1980.
<2>OS Card Reference: DOE(IAM) AMs Eng 2 1978 111.
<3>OS Card Reference: DOE(IAM) plan 01.07.71.
<4>XYOS Card Reference: Handbook of Kent's defences 1540-45 1977 5-11 (D Bennett). [Mapped feature: #387 Cliffe Fort, ]
<5>OS Card Reference: The Medway Forts 1976 20-1 (KR Gulvin).
<6>OS Card Reference: Coastal Defences of Eng 1856-1956 108-110 (IV Hogg).
<7>OS Card Reference: KAR 24 1971 116-18 (VTC Smith).
<8>Collection: RCHME: Cliffe Fort, Kent.
<9>Article in monograph: Saunders, Andrew. 1995. Thames fortifications during the 16th to 19th centuries. 124-134.
<10>Index: Kent County Council. 1999. Survey of Kent post-1500 defence sites. KD23.
<11>Graphic material: Cliffe Fort Brennan Torpedo Station - Launching bays/survey. PER. PEN.
<12>Graphic material: Cliffe Fort Brennan Torpedo Station/profile. PER. PEN.
<13>Graphic material: Cliffe Fort Brennan Torpedo Station - North Launching Bay/profile. PER. PEN.
<14>Graphic material: Cliffe Fort Brennan Torpedo Station - South Launching Bay/profile. PER. PEN.
<14>Monograph: Royal Commission on Historic Monuments in England. 1993. Cliffe Fort, Brennan Torpedo Launching Bays.
<16>Monograph: Watson-Smyth, M. (ed.). 1993. Deserted Bastions - Historic Naval and Military Architecture.
<17>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 1076. print.
<18>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 1078. print.
<19>Photograph (Print): 1947. Photograph. 4041. print.
<20>Photograph (Print): 1941. Photograph. 2043. print.
<21>Photograph (Print): 1941. Photograph. 2045. print.
<22>Photograph (Print): 2000. Photograph. 166. print.
<23>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/10. print.
<24>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/11. print.
<25>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/12. print.
<26>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/13. print.
<27>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/14. print.
<28>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/15. print.
<29>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/16. print.
<30>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/17. print.
<31>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/19. print.
<32>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/2. print.
<33>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/20. print.
<34>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/21. print.
<35>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/22. print.
<36>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/23. print.
<37>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/24. print.
<38>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/25. print.
<39>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/26. print.
<40>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/27. print.
<41>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/28. print.
<42>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/31. print.
<43>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/32. print.
<44>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/34. print.
<45>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/35. print.
<46>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/36. print.
<47>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/37. print.
<48>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/38. print.
<49>Photograph (Print): 1993. Photograph. TQ7076/39. print.
<50>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/4. print.
<51>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/5. print.
<52>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/6. print.
<53>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/7. print.
<54>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/8. print.
<55>Photograph (Print): 1979. Photograph. TQ7076/9. print.
<56>Photograph (Print): 1946. Photograph. 4038. print.
<57>Unpublished document: Wessex Archaeology. 2005. North Kent Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey: Phase ll: Field Assessment Year Two Report.
<58>Bibliographic reference: historic england. 2014. Hoo Peninsula Outline Historic Area Assessment: Cliffe and Cliffe Woods Parish. Research Report 2014-54.
<59>Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2008. Sweyne County Primary School, Swanscombe. Field evaluation (Palaeolithic) DRAFT (now Manor Community Primary School).
<60>Unpublished document: Kent Defence Research Group. c. 1993. Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs'.

Related records

TQ 77 NW 1015Parent of: Cliffe Fort Brennan Torpedo slips, Cliffe (Monument)

Related thematic articles