Tilbury

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Tilbury is located on the Essex bank of the River Thames, in England, at the point where the river suddenly narrows to about 800 yards/740 metres in width.

Tilbury has a deep water port, a fort and was the site of an important ferry to Gravesend on the south bank of the river.

Forts at Tibury were an important defence of London, particularly during the Spanish Armada (see Speech to the Troops at Tilbury) and the Dutch Wars. The first permanent fort at Tilbury was built in 1539 by Henry VIII.

Work started on the current fort in 1670 by Sir Bernard de Gomme, the chief army engineer of Charles II. The fort was finished in 1680. It stopped being used for defensive purposes in 1950 and is now a national monument. The fort has several interesting features. The Water Gate is an ornate opening in the walls allowing access to the quay on the river. The defences consist of two moats, a ravelin and a redan.

Tilbury Docks

The docks at Tilbury operated as London's passenger liner terminal until the 1960s.

Now the port only handles containers, but it remains, along with the Port of London and Felixstowe, one of Britain's three major ports.

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