East Tilbury Battery (EHER 1824)

East Tilbury battery was an elongated battery of four concrete gun emplacements let into the crest of an oval shaped earthen mound. It was built to supplement Coalhouse Fort as part of the Thames' coastal defence system. It was constructed between 1889-1892 for long-range fire weapons. Its form rejected the stark outline of its predecessors, instead being blended into the landscape by means of a long and sloping earthen frontal area so that from a distance it was invisible. This was known as the 'Twydall Profile'. The guns at the battery, two 10-inch Mk. III and four 6-inch Mk. VII breech-loading guns, extended the tactical doctrine of invisibility, being mounted on 'disappearing carriages' which lay flat in deep emplacements for reloading and aiming but which were raised above the parapet for the few seconds of firing. Although the guns were removed when the battery was decommissioned in 1907, the remainder of the fortification is well-preserved.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Fortifications on higher ground to Coalhouse Fort were constructed in 1889-90 and consisted of a battery of six guns. This battery is still to be seen (1962) in the village; beside the gun emplacements, there are underground rooms for the magazines and a store and workroom for the troops serving the guns. "Towards 1900 the two 6in sections were remounted on barbette carriages, the 10in guns being left alone, being removed when the guns were declared obsolete in the 1920s". The battery was in service until after World War II. At present it is derelict and considerably overgrown. <1> The guns were originally on disappearing mounts which did not prove satisfactory "so they were later replaced by more conventional ones". <2> See EHER 1823 for the origin of the battery and its initial composition. This work lies on private ground between the village of East Tilbury and the river. Construction was completed by 1890. As originally laid out there were six emplacements of concrete, concealed from the river by an earthen glacis. The two centre pits mounted 10in BL guns while the flanks carried two 6in BL, all of which were on disappearing carriages. Towards 1900 the 6in guns were remounted. Living casements were built beneath the 10in battery, and the usual cookhouse, stores, offices etc. were on the inland side of a sunken way running the length of the work. At present (1974) it is derelict and considerably overgrown. <3> Scheduled. <4> Listed. <5> East Tilbury Battery located at TQ 687 774. The battery was commissioned as Coalhouse Battery and opened in 1892. It was later called East Tilbury Battery. By December 1902 it was equipped with two 10-inch breech-loading Mk. III guns and four 6-inch breech-loading Mk. VII guns. <6> <7> East Tilbury Battery survives in near complete condition. Aerial photography from 1996 shows it remains in reasonable condition. The emplacements are visible and ancillary structures survive, however the site has become overgrown. <8> East Tilbury Battery was disarmed by 1907. <9> The Essex Record Office holds a log book (Reference: E/E 106/7/1) which in 1892 stated that the East Tilbury Church of England Primary School was '..closed on advice of the military authorities while big guns fired'. <10> Additional references <11> - <14>