Landguard Fort, Suffolk

Built at the mouth of the River Orwell, Landguard Fort was designed to guard the entrance to Harwich. The first fortifications on the site date from 1540 when Henry VIII had earthworks and a blockhouse built. In the 17th Century James I of England ordered the construction of a square fort with bulwarks at each corner.

A new battery was built in 1716, and a complete new fort on an adjoining site was started in 1745 to a pentagonal bastioned trace. More work was carried out in the 1750s and 1780, but the biggest change was in the 1870s where the interior barracks were rebuilt to a keep-like design, the river frontage was rebuilt with a new casemated battery covered by a very unusual caponier with a quarter sphere bomb proof nose.

During World War II, it was used as one of the balloon launch sites as part of a project to attack Germany by means of free-flying hydrogen balloons that carried incendiary devices or trailing steel wires (intended to damage power lines.) Between 1942 and 1944, many thousands of balloons were launched.

The 10inch gun pit in Left Battery was converted into a Anti-aircraft Operations Room for Harwich in 1939. Some people believe the fort is haunted. The most common paranormal experience being the sighting of a sailor looking out of the top right window (the side visible from the road). Most reports of such occurrences were in the 1990s, but occasionally there are still reports of lights at night and being "pushed" whilst visiting the top floors.

Opening Times

The fort is open 7 days a week from April until October.

June to September 10am - 6pm.
Last admissions 5pm

April, May and October 10am - 5pm.
Last Admissions 4pm

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Ticket Prices

Adults
£3.50
Concessions £2.50
Children under 15 years £1.00
Children under 5 years free
Wheelchair users free

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Disabled Facilities

Access to the ground floor levels of the fort is possible for those in wheelchairs. Assistance may be required with entry to a few rooms where ramps have not yet been fitted to the threshold.

Access to the first floor is by about 20 relatively shallow steps in 5 separate locations. One set of steps has a partial handrail only. If this is a problem please ask to be directed to a more suitable access point.

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More Information

Telephone: 07749 695 523
Email: admin@landguard.com

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