Newhaven Fort, Newhaven, East Sussex
| Client: | Lewes District Council |
| Architect: | Pritchard Architecture Ltd |
| Value: | £7.5 Million |
| Programme: | 12 months |
This project required heritage expertise and careful liaison with Historic England as the Scheduled Ancient Monument was painstakingly improved.
The biggest job was restoring 18 casemates (vaults within the site) and solving a serious damp problem. The team removed 300 cubic metres of soil, laid a membrane and drainage and then put all the soil back. This will prevent 90% of water ingress.
Duncan Kerr, chief executive at Wave Active, which operates Newhaven Fort, said: “Newhaven Fort is an important landmark in the community and we’re so excited to see the specialist team from Pilbeam and other contractors complete this important project.” “Together their work will safeguard this community asset for local residents.”
Other key repairs within the project included essential repairs to WWII gun emplacements, improvements to site entrance and accessibility, repointing and masonry repairs to casemate frontages.
Some of the historic mass concrete was removed to expose and repair steelwork, and provide reinforcement to the gun emplacement roofs, which required specialist techniques such as hydro demolition and a sprayed concrete method.
The Romney Hut was reclad to provide a versatile event space, there were improvements to handrails and edge protection and repairs to the WWII canopies over the gun emplacements.
Pilbeam’s experts then carefully removed paint and added ventilation, creating dry, warm and welcoming exhibition spaces for visitors.
The Duke of Gloucester visited Newhaven Fort on 27th March 2025, to unveil a commemorative plaque marking the completion of its restoration.
Ryan Stock from heritage specialists Pritchard Architecture said: “This conservation-led project required a collaborative relationship with Historic England which allowed us to develop radical, but sensitive interventions. “The project pioneered several strategies in the conservation of fortifications, with other organisations now taking inspiration from our work.”