Dymchurch Redoubt

[John]

Construction of Dymchurch Redoubt took place between 1805 and 1808 on the site of the former Brook Barn at one extremity of the sea wall (known in 1735 as East Fleet Wall), and was one of three massive redoubts built at this time, the other two being at Eastbourne and Harwich, and in conjunction with the chain of Martello Towers that lined the shore it formed an important part of the defences along this vulnerable stretch of coastline. The Redoubt consists of a ring of casemates with an external diameter of 67 metres and an inner courtyard of 40 metre diameter - an 8 metre wide dry circular ditch built of brick surrounds the structure and access to the fort was originally provided by a drawbridge. This bridge would have consisted of a fixed bridge from the outer ring of the ditch to the halfway point, where it met a counterbalanced section that could be raised to cover the entrance gate. Today there is just a fixed structure, probably added during the heavy modifications that took place in the Second World War.

The original armament was eleven 24 pounder cannon mounted on wooden carriages which ran on four wheels along a wooden inclined traversing platform - these  guns would have had a range of approximately one mile. In the 1870's the upgraded weaponry defending the Redoubt consisted of two 68 pounder RMLs and ten 32 pounders, the 68 pounders being a vast improvement on the earlier cannon with a heavier shell (250lbs) and an effective range of 2.5 miles. The weight of these weapons meant that wooden carriages had to be abandoned and replaced with iron hydraulically controlled recoil carriages. Garrison strength at that time was 8 officers and 100 men, this was increased to 130 men by 1895 when three additional 68 pounders had been added. Unlike the Redoubt at Eastbourne there were no caponiers projecting into the dry ditch to provide flanking fire - an 1870 Committee recommended that they be added by building half inch thick iron plate structures but this was never followed through.

Viewed from a distance, the Redoubt as originally built presented a very low profile indeed and would have been almost invulnerable to horizontal incoming fire from French warshipsdue to the  height of the protective glacis around the ditch. Plunging fire, of course, would have overcome this and so the strongly constructed vaulted casemates were vital in providing safety for the garrison and their stores. Today the Redoubt makes a more obvious landmark due to the additions carried out in the Second World War, when the terreplein level was reinforced with concrete and new artillery and machine gun emplacements were added. Two 6" BLs were mounted on the roof in brick and concrete gun houses as protection from enemy aircraft, machine guns, 20mm and 40mm AA weapons were also in place by 1942 - the original seaward facing gun positions were widened to incorporate the new machine gun posts while two other positions were destroyed completely. The dominating feature of course is the large Observation Tower.

One of the most interesting uses that the Redoubt has been put to started in the 1970's when it was used as an Urban training facility for soldiers destined for Northern Ireland. Large concrete panels were fixed to the interior walls of the courtyard via scaffolding and shaped / painted to depict street scenes. The only surviving traces of this facility are the six firing posts at terreplain level, as the deterioration of the slabcon panels presented a health and safety risk and they were removed in 1996. The Ministry of Defence still use the site for training troops in close-quarters fighting - a purpose built 'Killing Hut' and various casemates are the new playgrounds which benefit from low velocity training ammunition and paint / plastic marking technology, as well as various electronic enhancements.

[John]

A few plans below - Dymchurch Redoubt in 1927, in 1942, and a couple from the 1990's when in use for Close Quarter Battle training..

[John]

Plan dated 1848.

[Dugout Pete]

A few pic's, taken a couple of years ago (Cheers John!  ) :
http://s320.photobucket.com/albums/nn332/outdug/Dymchurch%20Redoubt%203-11-07/

[John]

Dymchurch Redoubt viewed from the sea wall. Take away all the WWII additions and the low profile of the Redoubt would make it quite hard to see!

[John]

A colourful plan of Dymchurch Redoubt.

[John]

A few pictures from the last trip I arranged to Dymchurch Redoubt a couple of years ago..

[cliveh]

A few pictures from the last trip I arranged to Dymchurch Redoubt a couple of years ago..

Is there another trip planned on the horizon John?

cliveh

[John]

Not at the moment Clive - but if the active membership on here grows to the point where I think it's worthwhile, I might try a few trips to various places 

[cliveh]

That'll be great! 

cliveh

[John]

Ordnance Land at Dymchurch Redoubt, 1848.

[John]

HC Deb 14 March 1916 vol 80 cc1905-6W

Mr. BENNETT-GOLDNEY
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if there are any records at the War Office condemning the old redoubt at Dymchurch as unfit for habitation; if he is aware that it was condemned, even in dry weather in summer time, for the use of Boy Scouts; whether the drainage arrangements have since been modernised or whether the only cesspit is still overflowing owing to its level being below that of spring tides; if his attention has been drawn to the report that the only sleeping rooms, which are underground and really formed out of the arched vaults supporting the superstructure, were, before certain soldiers were moved to the front and elsewhere, reeking with damp and that the water in wet weather dripped from the roofs on to the men's beds; if he is aware that the sleeping arches had to be used also as eating rooms and the workrooms for additional purposes, and that the accommodation is not only so unhealthy that the men suffer much from chills and sore throats, but that it is also altogether inadequate for the purposes for which it is used; and, if there has been no change during the last three weeks, whether he will take immediate steps to provide other and more suitable quarters?

Mr. TENNANT
I know of no records of the condemnation of the Dymchurch redoubt. The drainage arrangements have not been modernised, but steps are being taken to improve matters. There are nine large rooms, each capable of holding seventeen men. These rooms have fair ventilation, open fireplaces, and are dry and clean. Steps are being taken to add windows to some of the rooms where they are deficient. The sanitary officer has reported that the quarters, cookhouse and stores are clean and well kept. There is no overcrowding. Owing to the number of troops requiring accommodation at the present time, some old buildings, including Dymchurch redoubt, have of necessity to be occupied. It is not considered necessary to provide other quarters.