25/12/2022
Merry Christmas from Thames Defence Heritage. Our volunteers will be back working at the New Tavern Fort and the Cold War Bunker in 2023.
Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend
- Home
- United Kingdom
- Gravesend
- Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend
Thames Defence Heritage - we are the volunteers that look after the New Tavern Fort, Milton Chantry
Thames Defence Heritage is a voluntary organisation formed in 2000. It incorporates and extends the activities of the New Tavern Fort Project, founded in 1975. The purpose of TDH is to promote the education of the community, local and other authorities, societies, individuals and others in the existence, significance and heritage and cultural value of the fortifications and other historical defenc
e sites in the Greater Thames area. The latter may be defined as the banks and hinterland of the Thames from London to the extremities of the Estuary, and the waters thereby contained.
Operating as usual
22/12/2022
Some of the ongoing renovation projects that take place during the winter season, when the tunnels are closed to the public. Our dedicated team will be working hard to get everything completed ready for visitors in April 2023.
14/11/2022
Work taking place in the tunnels to renovate some of the displays. This will continue over the next few months. If you are interested in lending a hand, then please contact us.
11/11/2022
19/10/2022
Skilled work in progress, showing the construction of a gun carriage by our volunteers
02/10/2022
Work began today to clean and renovate the displays, starting with the helmets and gasmasks.
26/09/2022
Thank you to all those who visited us during the fantastic 1940s event that took place in Fort Gardens this weekend. The tunnels and the Chantry Heritage Centre will now be closed until April 2023. During the winter season we will be carrying out our usual cleaning and refurbishment of the displays within the tunnels. If you are interested in helping out with this, then please contact us or pop by and see us at the Fort on Sunday mornings.
18/09/2022
A big thank you to Mr A. Steel from Northfleet for donating these helmets in wonderful condition. We shall look at integrating them into our displays as we clean and renovate during the winter months. Thanks again.
08/09/2022
Timeline photos
30/08/2022
This wonderful bench is newly installed in Fort Gardens. It's dedicated to Laurie Coker, one of our long time volunteers. Laurie also served as the director of the group for a period of time. Current volunteers Colin, David and Philip admire the views of the Fort from here.
28/08/2022
Just a reminder, that as it is a Bank Holiday weekend, the tunnels of the Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre will additionally be open on Monday.
07/08/2022
This morning in the workshop, the volunteers have been working to renovate the displays in the tunnels of the Fort.
27/07/2022
Photos from Gravesend Cold War Bunker's post
29/05/2022
Unfortunately The Chantry Heritage Centre will not be open today, Sunday 29th May, due to an unresolved fault. The tunnels & magazines will be open as normal.
22/05/2022
Brought in by one of our volunteers today.
A historic Holy Bible
Containing the Old and New Testament.
18/04/2022
Just a reminder that as it is Bank Holiday Monday, the tunnels and magazines of the New Tavern Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre are open today until 5pm
16/04/2022
This weekend the tunnels of the New Tavern Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre will be open Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from midday until 5pm.
10/04/2022
The Chantry Heritage Centre and the tunnels of the New Tavern Fort are now open until 5pm this afternoon
03/04/2022
The Chantry Heritage Centre and the tunnels of the New Tavern Fort are open today until 5pm. They will be open every Saturday and Sunday afternoon until the end of September. Please come along and visit š
02/04/2022
The tunnels and magazines of the New Tavern Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre will be open for visitors from midday to 5pm, Saturdays and Sundays from April until the end of September.
24/03/2022
This morning a small group of volunteers have been sweeping and hoovering in the tunnels as part of the final preparations for reopening for this season.
06/03/2022
This morning the volunteers have been continuing to clean, tidy and renovate the displays within the New Tavern Fort, ready for when we reopen for visitors.
We are always looking for new volunteers both to work on this side of things and to assist with opening up the tunnels and the Chantry Heritage Centre to the public. If you are interested in this kind of thing, please either pop along to the Fort on a Sunday morning to see more or contact us through this page.
16/02/2022
Damage at the Fort, we are hoping our Facebook friends will be able to help us keep an eye...
There has been a minor break in at the Fort and some damage has been caused. We are very grateful to the member of the public who reported this. Thanks to the police and council for attending the site.
We would ask that any of our friends and followers would help us to keep an eye on the Fort and report any damage or anti social behaviour to the police. Thank you.
06/02/2022
Work going on again this morning to clean up and refresh the displays ready for the 2022 season.
30/01/2022
More work going on by the volunteers in the tunnels this morning including continuing to clean up the WVS display.
We are always looking for new volunteers, so please contact us if you are interested.
23/01/2022
Photos from New Tavern Fort's post
19/01/2022
Photos from Gravesend Cold War Bunker's post
16/01/2022
The volunteers are continuing their work at the New Tavern Fort as they do most Sunday mornings, including cleaning up the WVS display in the tunnels.
17/11/2021
Some more great publicity for the Bunker. Dates have been set for the Friday night tours throughout 2022. Places can be booked by the usual method through the Gravesend Visitor Information team.
11/11/2021
We will remember them 11/11/21
24/10/2021
20/10/2021
News item on this evening's BBC South East Today
26/09/2021
It's the second day of Hope & Glory and our last day of the 2021 season. The tunnels and magazines of the New Tavern Fort will be open until 5pm this evening.
25/09/2021
The tunnels are now open until 5pm during the Hope & Glory event today and tomorrow
05/09/2021
We have an event going on in the park today in line with our regular opening times of The Tunnels and Chantry. Please visit and have a great day.
29/08/2021
As it is a Bank Holiday weekend, the tunnels and magazines of the New Tavern Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre will be open for visitors on BH Monday from midday until 5pm.
27/08/2021
Yesterday saw the launch of "Preparing for Armageddon" by Victor Smith, the new booklet about the Gravesend Bunker. This will be available to purchase from the Bunker and the Fort for Ā£2.50. It will also be available in due course from the Gravesend Visitor Information desk in the marketplace. It will also be available by mail directly from the TDH Director, Sandra Soder (email: [email protected])
26/08/2021
We are pleased to announce that tours of Gravesend Cold War Bunker have restarted. We have a few places left for tomorrow evening, Friday 27th August.
Booking is essential, and is through the Gravesend Visitor Information Team. Please contact them directly to book places.
08/08/2021
The tunnels and magazines of the New Tavern Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre will be open every Saturday and Sunday until the end of September, midday to 5pm. Entry to the Fort tunnels is just Ā£1 per person and the Chantry is free.
Address
Milton Place
Gravesend
DA122BT
Alerts
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Videos
Shortcuts
Nearby museums
-
St Andrews Quay
-
Tilbury RM187NR
-
London
-
London
-
Tilbury
-
Orsett Road, Grays
-
Hogg Lane, Grays
-
Rochester ME11
-
Chatham
-
Dock Road, Chatham
-
Chatham
-
Dock Road, Chatham
-
Dartford College of Physical Education Alumni
Dartford KENT -
Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham
Other Gravesend museums
-
St Andrews Quay -
Royal Naval Association Gravesend Branch
Springhead Road
Comments
Hi everyone at TDH, today is Laurie Coker's funeral. If you wish to attend virtually you can via this Obitus link at midday. These are tough times but he's going to get the send off he deserves :)
His family are asking anyone who wishes to pay their respects through a donation, to do so via his justgiving page rather than through flowers etc. It would mean a lot to him.
Thank you,
Rachel
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lawrencecoker
His family are asking anyone who wishes to pay their respects through a donation, to do so via his justgiving page rather than through flowers etc. It would mean a lot to him.
Thank you,
Rachel
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lawrencecoker
It is with great sadness that's Laurie Coker's family have to announce that after a long battle with illness he peacefully passed away on Sunday 13th June. Laurie was a volunteer at TDH for many many years., RIP Laurie, Husband, Dad, Grandad & Great Grandad
Hello. I hope this is okay to post here.
I wanted to draw attention to our Coalhouse Fort Future facebook group. We're a group of enthusiasts and historians who want to undertake maintenance and re-open the fort to the public. Currently, no maintenance appears to be taking place and there is no public access.
Victor Smith is advising us and one of our key supporters. We also have many of the volunteers who came to New Tavern Fort back in Autumn 2017.
Please join our group to find out more and keep updated about any developments.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/697638314159928/?ref=share
I wanted to draw attention to our Coalhouse Fort Future facebook group. We're a group of enthusiasts and historians who want to undertake maintenance and re-open the fort to the public. Currently, no maintenance appears to be taking place and there is no public access.
Victor Smith is advising us and one of our key supporters. We also have many of the volunteers who came to New Tavern Fort back in Autumn 2017.
Please join our group to find out more and keep updated about any developments.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/697638314159928/?ref=share
I am missing you all and I hope you have a fantastic day and stay safe ##
Thames Defence Heritage Volunteers ready to open to the public whatever !
Hello Gravesend !
A few years ago, members of the Palmerston Forts Society had a very enjoyable and informative visit to Gravesend.
Some news about us:
The new Palmerston Forts Society and Portsdown Artillery Volunteers page is open for business. It will include information on membersā meetings and events, PAV activities and any news that comes in. Please visit the site and comment, like, follow and contribute.
https://www.facebook.com/PalmerstonFortsSociety/
The old Palmerston Forts Society page has closed but we are transferring some of the content over.
A few years ago, members of the Palmerston Forts Society had a very enjoyable and informative visit to Gravesend.
Some news about us:
The new Palmerston Forts Society and Portsdown Artillery Volunteers page is open for business. It will include information on membersā meetings and events, PAV activities and any news that comes in. Please visit the site and comment, like, follow and contribute.
https://www.facebook.com/PalmerstonFortsSociety/
The old Palmerston Forts Society page has closed but we are transferring some of the content over.
Ed Combes and Al McCann with Jay Curtis, Deputy Director of Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend
David Neale, Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend photographer.
Today two P.C.S.O.s appeared at the fort at about 13.00 hrs and spent the whole afternoon patroling the area.
The number of disruptive youths that have been upsetting people visiting the fort in recent weeks suddenly found it was not as atractive as before and left, others stayed and later Police arrived presumably requested by the P.C.S.O.s and made one arrest.
The number of disruptive youths that have been upsetting people visiting the fort in recent weeks suddenly found it was not as atractive as before and left, others stayed and later Police arrived presumably requested by the P.C.S.O.s and made one arrest.
Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend tour guides Philip & Jay
The Tunnels of the New Tavern Fort are open every Saturday & Sunday until the end of September, its just Ā£1 per person to visit.
The volunteers of Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
The volunteers of Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
422 people visited the Gravesend Cold War Bunker last Saturday during the special open day. Our thanks go to the volunteers of Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend for all of their hard work in helping to make this possible.