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Hidden secrets of 154-year-old fort now accessible

George Carden
BBC News, Newhaven
George Carden/BBC Stairs leading up to a gunning position in Newhaven Fort. The stairs are surrounded by several feet of concrete of bricks and there is an LED strip of lights on one of the walls.George Carden/BBC
Areas of Newhaven Fort which were previously not open to the public are now accessible

Previously hidden areas of a historic fort in East Sussex are now open to the public after a £7.5m restoration project.

Several parts of Newhaven Fort, including tunnels leading to gunning positions and the battery observation post, have been made safe to explore.

The casemates – vaults within the 154-year-old site – have also been revamped to stop them leaking.

The 19th Century fort was closed for 12 months, but has reopened.

Collections custodian Francis Pulham said the restoration had "revitalised" the fort.

"We have brand new exhibitions in pretty much every casemate and we've even been able to open parts of the fort which have never been open to the public before," he said.

"The restoration was pretty vital. There were areas that were no longer accessible due to safety concerns, there was a risk of losing some of our heritage buildings."

He added: "It is the most important military structure on the Sussex coast."

George Carden/BBC A large green anti-aircraft gun which is encased in a concrete structure above and below. The gun is about 6 metres long and made of steel. It looks over the bay of Seaford and Newhaven Harbour.George Carden/BBC
In 1940, nine bombs were dropped on Newhaven Fort, with four hitting the target

Mr Pulham said the restored battery observation post, which provides a panoramic view, was one of the most important rooms in defending Newhaven.

Officers and soldiers used special range finders to look out for enemy ships and aircraft, he said.

"All that information was fed to the four guns above," he added.

George Carden/BBC The battery observation post is a concrete bunker with a panoramic window which gives a view of the cliffs at Seaford, the ocean and Newhaven Harbour. Grass and mud are visible at the front of the viewing point which is almost level with the ground and near the edge of the cliff edge.George Carden/BBC
The restored battery observation post is now accessible to the public

Despite the fortification and artillery used to defend the site, it did not stop the Nazi Luftwaffe successfully hitting Newhaven Fort.

On 28 October 1940, nine bombs were dropped on Newhaven Fort, with four hitting the target. One landed within the walls, which created a 20m crater which is still visible, while two landed in the officers' encampment, which is now the customer car park.

The four guns facing out towards the sea are also now accessible to the public after being out-of-bounds for four years, Mr Pulham added.

They include gun position D, which has an underground passage which the public can walk down to get to the lower area of the fort.

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