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Volunteering opportunities at Kent’s historic forts

Submitted by Kent Historic … on 23 June 2014

There are volunteering opportunities at a number of Kent’s historic forts. These can be interestingly varied. Depending upon the sites concerned they may, for example, involve helping to expose buried structures, clearing or controlling vegetation over or around them, assisting with restoration, historic refurnishing and fitting out as well as carrying out historical research and acting as a guide for visitors. There can even be opportunities for re-enactment. You don’t have to be an ‘expert’ to join in as coaching is given. Being part of a fort project and of a group of like-minded people can be a worthwhile and satisfying experience while, at the same time, contributing positively to our defence heritage. Want to know more? Here are the contact points for some Kentish fort projects: New Tavern Fort, the Tudor Gravesend Blockhouse and the Cold War bunker, all at Gravesend (Thames Defence Heritage) Sandra Soder 01474 363998 sandrasoder@yahoo.co.uk Drop Redoubt and Western Heights Defences, Dover (Western Heights Preservation Society) Jay Curtis 07736 844070 jaycurtis@blueyonder.co.uk Fort Amherst and Lines, Chatham and Slough Fort, Allhallows (Fort Amherst and Lines Trust + new community group in course of formation for Slough Fort) Keith Gulvin keithgulvin@live.co.uk Fort Borstal, Borstal and Fort Luton, Chatham (Kent History Forum) Karyn Higgins kyn@sheppeywebsite.co.uk Some projects work all-year round and others for part of the year. Newly-advised volunteering opportunities will be added as soon as they are received by the Historic Defences Committee.