NEWHAVEN FORT

1976

By J Lander

The following pictures of Newhaven Fort were taken in the summer of 1976, the Army vacated the site in 1962 and it was then used as a holiday camp site for a few years, from 1965 to 1981 the whole area was closed. 1982 saw the Fort reopened as a tourist attraction. 

Photo:Main Entrance - 1976

Main Entrance - 1976

John Lander

Photo:Parade area - 1976

Parade area - 1976

John Lander

Photo:Casements - 1976

Casements - 1976

John Lander

Photo:Fort and tonnes of rubble - 1976

Fort and tonnes of rubble - 1976

John Lander

Photo:Fort - 1976

Fort - 1976

John Lander

Photo:Fort - 1976

Fort - 1976

John Lander

Photo:Fort - 1976

Fort - 1976

John Lander

Photo:Fort and the Harbour - 1976

Fort and the Harbour - 1976

John Lander

Photo:Harbour - 1976

Harbour - 1976

Edited from the previous picture

This page was added by Laurie Stonehouse on 16/07/2012.
Comments about this page

Does anyone know when the Coastguards stopped using the lookout in the fort and switched to the 'new' one further along the cliffs? Before joining the lifeboat my father Len was an Auxiliary Coastguard and used to go into and through the deserted fort to stand watch - which he described as extremely creepy. He was on watch there in 1964 the day I was born and had to run home because someone had released the brake on his works (Sylvesters) and allowed it to roll down the hill and into a ditch.

By Rob Patten
On 18/07/2012

My brother Roger and I used to stay at a caravan on Downlands Caravan Park during the early 70's.
As a teenager at the time, the fort was a very exciting place to explore - we spent many days digging into tunnels into the depths of the cliffs.
Unfortunately many of the tunnels had been deliberately filled I suspect by the local council, I hate to think how much money was spent removing this official vandalism when the fort was refurbished.

It has always held a very fond place in my heart, I have to pop back every few years - if I don't I get severe withdrawal symptoms.

By John Andrews
On 13/03/2022

Does anyone remember getting to the fort using the tunnel that started somewhere near the back of the Boy's Club?

By Richard Parker
On 04/04/2022
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