Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend

Directions Website

Thames Defence Heritage Gravesend Thames Defence Heritage - we are the volunteers that look after the New Tavern Fort, Milton Chantry & Woodlands Park Civil Defence Bunker

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 defence 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.

This morning at the New Tavern Fort .The volunteers are tidying up the outside of the Fort, finishing the painting on th...
01/11/2026

This morning at the New Tavern Fort .
The volunteers are tidying up the outside of the Fort, finishing the painting on the 25pdr, and starting the renovation of the pillbox display inside the tunnels.

In addition we have emptied the dehumidifiers and carried out fire alarm tests.

The volunteers work throughout the winter season on a Sunday morning...

This morning at the New Tavern Fort Gravesend, work has begun to replace some of the flooring on the display in the firs...
25/10/2026

This morning at the New Tavern Fort Gravesend, work has begun to replace some of the flooring on the display in the first room in A battery.
We believe the wood is from the original display created in that room over 40 years ago, so it's definitely due for replacement.

This is just an example of the kinds of jobs the volunteers do over the winter season whilst the tunnels are closed to visitors.

A big thank you to Jon Barker of the National Trust at Wanstone Gun Battery, for donating this book to us at New Tavern ...
25/10/2026

A big thank you to Jon Barker of the National Trust at Wanstone Gun Battery, for donating this book to us at New Tavern Fort, Thames Defence Heritage.

Although the tunnels of the Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre are closed for visitors over winter, the volunteers con...
11/10/2026

Although the tunnels of the Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre are closed for visitors over winter, the volunteers continue to work throughout the year.

There are always displays to tidy up and repair.
Cleaning, tidying and painting.

Thank you to Clive Holden for a copy of his latest book, Subterfuge and Sabotage during Hitler's Blitzkrieg.This will be...
04/10/2026

Thank you to Clive Holden for a copy of his latest book, Subterfuge and Sabotage during Hitler's Blitzkrieg.

This will be passed onto the Gravesend Historical Society and into the archives.

The Society was able to assist Clive with his research in writing this fascinating book.

This is our last weekend of the 2026 season...Tunnels of the New Tavern Fort and Chantry Heritage Centre are open for Sa...
26/09/2026

This is our last weekend of the 2026 season...
Tunnels of the New Tavern Fort and Chantry Heritage Centre are open for Saturday and Sunday 26/27 September. Midday until 5pm.

Please come along and visit.

12/09/2026
09/09/2026
The volunteers are continuing to tidy up around the site.Just a reminder that the tunnels of the New Tavern Fort and the...
30/08/2026

The volunteers are continuing to tidy up around the site.

Just a reminder that the tunnels of the New Tavern Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre will additionally be open on Bank Holiday Monday this weekend.

Midday until 5pm.

Please come along and visit.
Saturday and Sunday afternoon until the end of September.

Over the last few weeks, our volunteers have been busy completing painting the 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Gun.Plus we are de...
23/08/2026

Over the last few weeks, our volunteers have been busy completing painting the 3.7 inch Anti Aircraft Gun.

Plus we are delighted that our 25pdr is now out on display again.
A huge thank you to Om and Geordie from Brompton Barracks/Babcock's for moving it back into position for us.

As always the tunnels of the New Tavern Fort and Chantry Heritage Centre are open every weekend from midday until 5pm.
They will also be open on the Bank Holiday Monday at the end of August.

Address

Milton Place
Gravesend
DA122BT

Opening Hours

Saturday 12pm - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Website

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.

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Nearby government services

Other Landmarks in Gravesend

Show All