The Duke of Gloucester visits Newhaven Fort to celebrate restoration

Back in January, we shared some of the CGI images of the new adventure play we were creating for Newhaven Fort in East Sussex.

Last week, His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester visited the completed Newhaven Fort to unveil a commemorative plaque celebrating the completion of its £7.5 million restoration.

During his visit, The Duke embarked on a guided tour highlighting key restoration efforts and our own Jono Burgess - Professor of Play, introduced him to the fort's brand-new adventure playground, before he went on to visit the restored casemates and enhanced exhibitions.

The Duke, who is a keen architect and Patron of the Fortress Study Group, also visited the newly-restored gun emplacements, which offer panoramic views across the Sussex coastline.

Built in the 19th century, Newhaven Fort is the largest work of defence ever built in Sussex and is the last in a series of coastal defences built on the cliffs overlooking Seaford Bay, which date back to the Iron Age.

The project introduced several exciting new features. Previously inaccessible areas, such as the Battery Observation Post, have been opened to the public for the first time, while the Romney Hut in the parade square has been re-clad and refurbished to serve as a versatile event space for hire.

To find out more about Newhaven Fort or to book tickets, please visit: www.newhavenfort.org.uk

L-R: Duncan Kerr, chief executive of Wave Active, which operates Newhaven Fort, Neil Harrison, head of commercial development at Wave Active, The Duke of Gloucester, Jono Burgess, playground designer at CAP.CO
Credit:Victoria Dawe