Cannons, Cricket & Zeppelins: The Wild History of Tilbury Fort
Tilbury Fort has stood guard over the Thames for centuries, witnessing Tudor defence, wartime action and even one remarkably violent game of cricket. From Henry VIII to German Zeppelins, its fascinating history is packed with unexpected twists, battles and stories
Did you know that Tilbury’s first fort was built by Henry VIII in 1539 to help defend the River Thames and the approach to London. The impressive fort you see today was largely developed in the 1670s.
And in 1776, even the cricket got violent! A match between Essex and Kent at Tilbury reportedly descended into a fight involving guns and bayonets, with several people said to have been killed.
Guns at #Tilbury usually had a rather different purpose. During the First World War, anti-aircraft guns fired on a German Zeppelin L15 in 1916, helping bring it down. The fort was also used during the Second World War.
From Henry VIII to cricket, cannons and Zeppelins, Tilbury Fort has quite a story to tell!
