Coalhouse – A 19th Century Fort
Coalhouse fort was constructed between 1861 and 1874. The final phases of the construction were supervised by Colonel Gordon who later died in the siege of Khartoum. During World War II it was used as to check outgoing vessels for degaussing to avoid magnetic mines. The fort was de-commissioned in 1949 and is now owned by Thurrock Council on a long term lease from the MoD. At the time the above video was made, there were open days when the fort could be visited, but this is no longer the case.
More information is available from Thurrock Museum.