A Victorian hilltop fort constructed in the 1890s as part of a defence network to protect London from a potential invasion that never occurred has been brought into the spotlight by a military historian. Dr Jen Howe, a specialist in military history, shared the fascinating tale of Reigate Fort on Instagram. Now under the care of the National Trust, the fort was built atop Reigate Hill in Surrey in 1898. Its purpose was extraordinary: to fend off a possible French invasion as part of the London Defence scheme, a 72-mile network of 13 military installations designed to safeguard the capital. Plans included storing equipment and ammunition, as well as digging enormous trenches to keep invading armies at bay.
History of Reigate Fort
Dr Howe began her Instagram slideshow by remarking: "POV: You stumble into a world of forgotten military history just 30 mins from London." She continued: "Built in the late 1890s to defend London from a French invasion that never actually came. These buildings held shovels and guns, ready to build one huge trench around London..." By 1906, the British Navy was deemed strong enough to repel any invasion, and Reigate Fort was decommissioned, sold the following year. In 1972, it and other mobilisation centres were designated Scheduled Ancient Monuments by English Heritage for their significance to British military history. The site is open to visitors daily.
What Visitors Can See
Visitors can view two sets of gates: the first are steel and spiked, while the second are heavier and bulletproof. The tool store and magazine, where munitions and explosives were once kept, are on display, along with underground casemates that served as storage and shelter from enemy bombardment. Dr Howe also highlighted a nearby memorial to nine US airmen who died when their B-17 Flying Fortress crashed on Reigate Hill in March 1945. "On March 19, 1945, nine US airmen were coming home from Germany when their plane went down in a thick cloud. None of them made it. They had an average age of 21. The oak wing tips laid out are the exact distance of the aircraft's tips, and a haunting reminder of what fell here," she said. The memorial, crafted by Surrey artist Roger Day, was unveiled on the 70th anniversary of the crash, using ancient Surrey oak and metal from the crash site.
Additional Structures
Dr Howe also noted a mysterious World War II structure nearby: "Even historians aren't too sure what it was used for." In her post caption, she wrote: "40 minutes from London there's a stretch of the North Downs where, in the space of a single walk, you pass a Victorian fort built to protect London from a French invasion that never came, a mysterious WW2 structure, a clearing where a US bomber crew were killed on their 13th mission together, and a WW2 training ground. Reigate is a genuinely beautiful walk, with wide open chalk downland, extraordinary views, ancient woodland. But the hidden military history adds so much to this place."
