More information : [TQ 7380 6522] Fort Bridgewoods [NAT] (1) Fort Bridgewoods is located along the Rochester/Maidstone Road behind Rochester Airport. The fort forms part of what was a very important `ring' fortress built to defend the Naval Dockyard at Chatham during the last century. This system was built between 1870 and 1900 and was the last permanent land fortress to be constructed in the United Kingdom. Until quite recently, Fort Bridgewoods was in extremely good condition and an excellent example of 19th century architecture. Since the 1960s, when the fort was sold off, a steady program of demolition has been carried over approximately half the area of the fort. (2)
The basic shape of the fort is hexagonal, six sided, with a dry ditch, the angles of the ditch covered by counter- scarp gallereies. The fort had two rows of casements, one in the centre for accomodation and another on the left side for magazines. There was originally a drabridge over the moat instead of the present fixed bridge. During WWI the fort served as barrack accomodation and in 1938 the fort was fitted out as the Civil Defence headquarters for the area. In 1942 a large concrete command centre was constructed on the site of the acvcomodation casements. At this time the fort also contained Home Guard, Royal Observer Corps personnel and a light anti-aircraft battery. In 1958 the fort was abandoned as being of no further military use. (3)
Addiitonal reference. (4) |