Tilbury Fort: fresh research prompts new guidebook

 The guidebook to Tilbury Fort - Charles II's mighty guardian of the Thames -  has been completely re-written, in the light of the latest research by English Heritage.

Author of the new guidebook, Paul Pattison, has been responsible for co-ordinating a full programme of documentary, architectural and archaeological research, which is still under way.

"When you're dealing with a monument that's been in active use for so long, there's always a danger that research will concentrate on one period of its use to the exclusion of all the others, and that this will then be reflected in a much too selective presentation to visitors. We feel that the new guidebook is a much broader and deeper exploration of the Fort's rich and varied history and that visitors will now be able to understand better how this complex site has evolved."

Work on improving the presentation of the site is continuing over the next year, with financial support from the European Community. At present, many of the fort's buildings are undergoing conservation work, while interpretation facilities are being improved for visitors. So far, we have installed new signs around the fort, commissioned a reconstruction painting of the fort as it would have appeared in 1904, produced a new guidebook and installed a new exhibition on site, all of which provide visitors with an insight to the life of the fort and its soldiers.  A new audio guide will be available soon.

Find out more about English Heritage's programme of research at Tilbury Fort.