East Tilbury Battery

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

BTPJoe

Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2016
Messages
7
Reaction score
53
Location
Canvey Island, Essex
Situated just half a mile away from Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury Battery, was constructed from 1887-93 and supplemented Coalhouse Fort as part of the Thames’ coastal defence system. It housed six long range firing weapons, mounted on disappearing carriages. There was two six-pdr guns on the left and right most sides, and two heavy 10-pdr guns in the middle. The battery was quite innovative in that it used the new method of hoisting rounds up to the guns from underground tunnels, and it was also aimed down the Thames and not across it, signalling the advancement in range and accuracy that rifled breech-loading guns had, being able to shoot further than simply across the river. Another innovation was that a simple non-climbable spiked metal fence was used to secure its perimeter, rather than moats and ditches seen in Coalhouse Fort itself, and castles from as far back as 1,000 years ago.

More info here: East Tilbury Battery - Beyond the Point















 
Hey stranger. I really enjoyed the video, thank you! One small bit of constructive thought, it might have been useful to have included some kind of map or overhead view to place it in the landscape, so we can see what it was defending and how it relates to Coalhouse fort. Defenses are very much grounded in their geography after all.
 
Hey stranger. I really enjoyed the video, thank you! One small bit of constructive thought, it might have been useful to have included some kind of map or overhead view to place it in the landscape, so we can see what it was defending and how it relates to Coalhouse fort. Defenses are very much grounded in their geography after all.

Hey, thanks for the feedback, I'll bear that in mind!

FYI - It would have been used to defend the Thames along with forts on the other side of the river :)
 
Its all change at East Tilbury now. The landowner is renting the site out to another farmer who is now making the site safe for cattle grazing. I have been advised that the gun pits are being filled in.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top