Fort Amherst

About the museum

Fort Amherst guards the River Medway above Chatham and is the best-known part of the Chatham Lines, a ring of defences begun in 1756 after a French invasion scare. Between 1776 and 1805 the chalk caves on the site were extended into a network of tunnels and gun positions, and in the late 18th and early 19th centuries the fort gained new batteries, a horn work and the Grand Magazine, its main gunpowder store. During the Napoleonic Wars it stayed on alert for a land attack, but by about 1820 improved gun technology had made the defences obsolete.

In Victorian times the fortifications served as a training ground for the army, and crowds came to watch practice sieges. In the First World War the fort had some of the first anti-aircraft guns and trained Royal Engineers. In the Second World War Chatham was designated a defended “Nodal Point”, the lines were adapted as anti-tank ditches, and the tunnels became a civil defence control centre and an anti-invasion headquarters.

Today the fort is run by the Fort Amherst Heritage Trust. The grounds with their many cannon are free to walk around, and guided tours take visitors through the tunnels, including a section that has been reconstructed and furnished to show how people lived and worked there in the Second World War. The site also holds family events, Halloween and Christmas attractions, and has a cafe.

Highlights

• Cannon positions on the upper and lower Cornwallis areas overlooking Chatham
• Underground tunnels with gun positions, musket galleries and a well
• Reconstructed Second World War civil defence rooms
• Grounds free to enter all year
• Cannon Cafe and play area

Permanent exhibitions

• Underground tunnels – Guided tours through the chalk tunnels with gun positions, musket galleries and defensible gateways; currently suspended.
• Second World War civil defence rooms – A reconstructed and furnished section of the tunnels shows how civil defence for North Kent was coordinated during air raids.
• Cannon positions on the ramparts – Many cannon on the upper and lower Cornwallis areas look out over Chatham.

Operated by

Fort Amherst Heritage Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

The grounds are free to enter all year; charges apply only to tours and special events. Ghost tours cost from £17.50 and tunnel tours are priced from £10.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The tunnel tours are not suitable for wheelchair users or people with limited mobility because of uneven floors and steep steps, and buggies cannot be taken into the tunnels. The site has accessible toilets. The fort is a scheduled monument with uneven ground.

Kids & families

Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 5+

• Family tours & workshops
• Playground / play area

The recommended minimum age for the tunnels is 5, because they can be frightening for younger children. A play area suits younger children, and family-friendly events run through the year, such as craft fairs, Halloween and Santa’s Grotto.

Getting there & parking

Address for navigation: Fort Amherst, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4UB.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Cannon Cafe prepares its food in-house and serves breakfast and afternoon tea; a second outlet called the Pantry is also on site. Visitors may bring picnics but there is no storage; barbecues are not allowed unless agreed in advance.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The fort offers wedding hire and hosts group bookings by request.

Plan your visit