Newhaven Fort is a remarkable example of 19th century military engineering and is one of the best preserved Victorian Forts in the country. From its cliff-top position overlooking the River Ouse and the English Channel, this Fort played an important role in Britain’s coastal defence for over a century.

Former Fort Manager, Ian Everest, will trace the story of Newhaven Fort, from its origins and construction, its strategic role during both World Wars, its role during peacetime and its subsequent abandonment by the military.

This talk will also cover the fascinating story about the Fort’s restoration and its phoenix like re-emergence as a popular visitor attraction. Ian will explain the trials and tribulations of preparing this Scheduled Ancient Monument for opening to the public and what can be enjoyed in a visit to the Fort today.

I was brought up in a farm on the South Downs and, after attending Agricultural College, I worked on farms before joining the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. My growing interest in both family and military history led to a career change in 1987 when I was appointed manager of Newhaven Fort in Sussex, a scheduled monument which I prepared for public opening the following year and continued to manage for fifteen years. Since retiring, I have developed a range of talks which I give to a wide variety of groups and organisations in the region.