Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Artillery fort completed c.1892 as part of the Chatham Ring Fortresses. It was the smallest of these forts which were built in a half-ring two miles outside Chatham. This irregular Pentagon shaped fort was made from brickwork and cement but due to improved gunnery they were out of date almost as soon as they were complete. Barrack blocks and magazines surviving elements. The ring forts are scheduled due to their importance as the last major work of traditional fortifications in the country.

Monument Types

• FORT (Post Medieval to Modern - 1892 AD to 2050 AD (between))
• ANTI AIRCRAFT BATTERY (Modern - 1914 AD to 1918 AD)

Full description

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(centred TQ 762 660) Fort Luton [NAT] (1)
Constructed after 1860 and completed by the middle of the 1890's, Luton was the smallest of the Chatham ring forts (TQ 76 NE 398), which were built in a half-ring two miles outside Chatham. Situated astride the valley whose mouth contains Chatham itself. An irregular pentagon in plan with a narrow deep ditch, flint revetted. The barracks and magazines are arranged across the interior moulded under chalk rubble. All the brick is cement rendered except for two moulded courses. No ironwork remains but otherwise in fair condition. These forts were out of date, due to improved gunnery, almost as soon as they were built. The last major work of traditional forifications in the country. Owned by Kent County Council, who plan to open it to the public. Scheduled. (2-4)
A museum, in private ownership (1994) [5].
See also possible prehistoric remains found during the construction of the fort (TQ 76 NE 33).

<1> OS 1:10000 1981 (OS Card Reference). SKE48167.

<2> DOE(IAM) Record Form 01.07.71 (OS Card Reference). SKE41432.

<3> Post Md Arch 10 1976 110-115 (OS Card Reference). SKE48531.

<4> Handbook of Kent Defences 1540-1945 1977 (D Bennett) 10-12 (OS Card Reference). SKE43663.

<5> 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 An Overview (Unpublished document).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.

<6> Kent Defence Research Group, c. 1993, Kent Defence Research Group 'Fort Logs' (Unpublished document). SKE52251.

Sources and further reading

Related records