TILBURY FORT

Is situated in Essex, opposite to the strong works constructed at Gravesend, and may properly be considered as the chief key to the city of London. The fortifications are regular: they were planned and executed by Sir Martin Beckman, chief engineer to King Charles the Second. The situation being low and marshy, it was necessary to drive two ranges of piles, one above the other, reaching below the bed of the river Thames; the lower range being pointed with iron, enter the solid chalk rock which extends to the opposite hills in Kent.

The works are perfect, and consist of ravelines, tenailles, counterscarp, and covered way, surrounded by a double moat, the innermost of which is one hundred and eighty feet broad. Drawbridges are erected across these moats, which give the situation a lively and pleasant effect, towards the great road to Chelmsford.

The esplanade is extensive, and the bastions are considered to be the largest in England. The works on the land side are strong and regular, and the bastions are faced with bricks. But the chief security of the fort consists in its being so constructed as to lay the extended level country under water; and thus render it impossible for an enemy to approach in that direction. To give additional strength to this part of the fortification, two redoubts of brick have been erected.

On the side fronting the river, is raised a strong curtain. The principal entrance is through a large and highlyadorned gateway, in the front of which is inscribed, in marble-Carolus II. Rex. A. Reg. 34.

By the original plan, a water bastion was designed to project into the river, in order to defend the two curtains. At this place there is a ditch strongly pallisaded. Nearly adjoining stands a strong tower, built in the reign of Queen

Elizabeth, called the Block House, but is now couverted into a powder magazine.

In the place of the counterscarp, designed to fill up the vacant space on both sides of the platform, are mounted one hundred and six cannons, carrying balls from 32 to 42lbs. presenting an appearance awful and terrible. On the bastions and curtains surrounding, are mounted, at regular distances, guns carrying balls of 9lbs. each.

The situation of the fort is truly singular on this account, being built on the confines of two parishes, viz. Chadwell and West Tilbury, through the middle of which formerly ran the great road leading to the passage at Gravesend. On the west-side, situated in Chadwell parish, are erected the barracks for the soldiers, guard-house, suttling-house, and chapel. In the West Tilbury confines, are built the houses for the principal officers of the garrison. They consist of seven distinct habitations, divided into various apartments, and suited to the rank of the officers. The exterior of the houses, viewed from the gate, present a pleasant aspect, being all built in a neat and regular manner. But the interior parts are not commodiously adapted to form separate apartments, insomuch, that when a great number of officers reside, no small inconvenience arises from the distribution of the rooms, which generally run one into another.

The greatest inconvenience, however, is often felt from a scarcity of good water. Here is no spring or well of fresh water, and the garrison depends, for supply, ou rain, which is collected, from the roofs of the houses, into reservoirs, and pumped from the same when occasion requires; but in dry summers, when the garrison is full of soldiers, it is conveyed by water carriage from Gravesend.

Here is to be seen a gun, cast in the time of the Commonwealth, under its protector, Oliver Cromwell, taken from an old redoubt near Gravesend, and said to be erected by Henry the Eighth, when he fortified the coast against the incursions of his continental enemies.

The barracks for the soldiers are capable of receiving three hundred men. A desirable and necessary improvement is intended, and about to be carried into execution, viz. a large building to be erected behind the soldiers' barracks the upper part is designed for an hospital, and the lower for a common kitchen and wash-house; the present state of the garrison requires these accommodations. The barracks are chiefly occupied by recruits, who daily arrive from London, and the northern parts of the kingdom, particularly from Scotland. After being examined and approved by the general of the district, they are sent on board a transport, hired for the purpose of conveying them to the grand depot in the Isle of Wight; and from thence they are distributed into their respective regiments in the East and West Indies.

To preserve order and regularity in the garrison, a detachment of soldiers, from Chatham, under the command of a lieutenant, amounting to fifty rank and file, mount guard, and are changed every month. For the purpose of keeping the batteries in good order, are stationed six invalid artillery-men, under the command of a master gunner. But the principal use of the fort, at this time, consists in its being a grand powder magazine. The buildings are bombproof, and contain many thousand barrels filled with ballcartridges; from them the fleet and army are conveniently supplied.

The present governor is General Sir Thomas Musgrave, Bart. His salary is £.300 per annum; besides the profits arising from the rents of the suttling and ferry houses, which greatly exceed that sum ; and, from present circumstances, might admit of being easily raised to twice that amount. The salaries of the other officers are inadequate to their support; that of the chaplain does not exceed £.35 per annum.

Near the principal gate, and above the guard-house, there is fitted up a small but neat chapel, wherein is per

formed divine service on Sundays and other solemn occa sions.

In the northern part of the parish, at West Tilbury heath, the four Roman proconsular ways crossed each other. In the year 650 the village gave name to the see of a bishop, called St. Ceadda, or St. Chadd, who converted the East Saxons to the Christian faith.

On the glebe of the rector of the parish was discovered, in the year 1727, a spring of chalybeate water. It is situated in a field below the church, covered by a small building, and yields a considerable increase to the income of the living. In the manor-house, adjoining the church, the property of ——— Hunt Micklefield, Esq. is a well of the same quality, yielding equal advantage to the possessor.

Near this place Queen Elizabeth assembled her forces when the kingdom was threatened by the Spanish Armada, arrogantly, as it was falsely, called. Whatever were the foibles of Elizabeth, as a woman, the British throne was never filled by a more consummate politician:-her talents in the cabinet were only equalled by her personal courage. Her reign was an era of glory, which, for splendour and permanence, is unrivalled in the arrnals of England. Her great qualities acquired not only the implicit confidence, but the real affection of all ranks of her people.

"The counsel, upon mature deliberation, gave order for the executing and disposing of land service, and chiefly what strength, and in what place, it were best to plant an armie of defence, and in the end it was concluded, the rendevous should be at Tylbury. The ground having been survayed before, forthwith were trenches cutte; their next thwart neighbour, Gravesend, was then likewise fortified; and westerne barges thither brought, to make a bridge like to that at Antwerp, to stop the entrance of the daring foe, and give free passage to horse and foote between Kent and Essex, as occasion served." The Queen then made a progress to Tilbury, where she thus addressed the army :-"My

loving people, we have been persuaded by some that are careful of our safety, to take heed how we commit ourselves to armed multitudes, for fear of treachery; but assure you I do not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people. Let tyrants fear;-I have always so behaved myself, that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects. And therefore, I am come amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have but the body of a week and feeble woman, but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms; to which, rather than any dishonour should grow by me, I, myself, will take up arms-I, myself, will be your general-judge-and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field *."

Upon this an universal acclamation rent the air; and, although this little army consisted of no more than fifteen thousand foot and three thousand horse," in the campe their most felicite was hope of fight with the enemy, where ofttimes divers rumours ran of their foes approch, and that present battell would be given them, then they were as joyfull at such newes as if lustie giants were to run a race †.”

In the long train of glorious events which have succeeded the reign of Elizabeth, it would be difficult to point out one which has dignified the name of Britons in a more eminent manner, or has, perhaps, had an equal tendency to impress foreign countries with a reverence for the English name, than the memorable defence made by Elizabeth at the period of the Spanish invasion.

This view is taken from the river;-the chapel appears

* Nichol's Progresses of Queen Elizabeth.

+ Ibid.