A Call To Arms

In keeping with London’s vital strategic importance, from the mid-16th – mid 20th centuries, its Thames river approaches were protected by a powerful group of shoreline gun positions. These formed a system-based approach to defence. The continuing development of this system was driven by an imperative to counter the risk of attack or invasion during war, the need to keep pace with innovation in military technology and by a requirement to incorporate changes resulting from strategic decision making.

As individual elements, several of the Thames forts have been successfully displayed to visitors for educational and heritage tourism purposes. But there is scope for doing more to enhance an understanding of all of the Thameside sites as a defensive system involving forts and batteries crossing their fire from both sides of the river in staged layers of defence - as well as to encourage an appreciation of other networked methods of defence which emerged during the later 19th and 20th centuries. Paradoxically though, the very existence of the Thames itself, which gave these defensive systems meaning, has been a problem as a psychological barrier and a perceived impediment to reciprocal visiting. These difficulties were noted as ones for solution in Andrew Saunders and Victor Smith, Kent’s Defence Heritage, Kent County Council et al (2001).

Thames Defence Heritage* has formed an informal partnership with Gravesham Borough Council in Kent and Thurrock Council in Essex to explore possible ways forward. An early result in 2003 was the creation of the Crossfire Trail which utilised the Gravesend/ Tilbury Ferry, to visit forts on both sides of the water. Even more popular and, indeed, oversubscribed, was Sailing through History, an all day boat trip from Gravesend and Tilbury down to the estuary, viewing the forts as a system and as an enemy would have seen them.

This approach will be repeated in subsequent years but it can be regarded only as a start. The creation of a defence heritage trail leaflet covering the Greater Thames seems a logical next step. As well as this, Thames Defence Heritage has begun a re-examination of the origins, rationale and evolution of the defences of the Thames. This study embraces an historical span extending outside the era of artillery fortification from the first century AD to the present day. Its scope is from London itself to the extremity of the estuary. Building on earlier work, which was supported in various ways by the Kent Archaeological Society, this involves archaeological investigation and recording, documentary research, interviewing and analysis.

Interior of the restored Victorian main cartridge store in the magazines of New Tavern Fort at Gravesend, managed by Thames Defence Heritage in partnership with Gravesham Borough Council.

In addition to the usual focus on military architecture and weapons, a greater consideration will be given to the role of the navy, and there will be an enhanced coverage of the technological, political context, as well as the effect on Thameside communities and the influence of London’s own government and of the river management organisations on the schemes for defending the river. Recently completed research by a TDH member on a British garrison in the Caribbean has strongly underscored the potential for taking a more holistic view of forts, batteries and the other sites along the Thames, to include much more about the regime of daily life which went on within them. The results of research will be synthesised into a range of outputs, such as a complete revision of the publication Defending London’s River (editions 1985 and 2002), and monographs on particular topics and themes for Archaeologia Cantiana and other journals. An informational web site is in the process of creation and, in time, a publicly accessible paper research archive may be created.

Contributions to the process will be sought from those already working in this field and from others. There are opportunities for interested members of the Kent Archaeological Society to participate. If they wish, they may also become involved in the restoration and display of New Tavern Fort, the Gravesend Blockhouse and a Cold War bunker, managed by Thames Defence Heritage in partnership with Gravesham Borough Council. For all these activities, a genuine interest in the subject, staying power and willingness to be a team player are qualities needed.

Enquiries to Victor Smith, Director of Thames Defence Heritage, 65 Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9BA (Tel: 01474 323415).

* Formed in 2000 and incorporating the New Tavern Fort Project, founded in 1975.