Hoo and Darnet Forts were commenced 1861. In 1867 they were reduced from the planned three tiers to two, after severe problems with subsidence, and they were commissioned in 1871. They are constructed on islands that lie either side of the main channel of the River Medway, down-river of Chatham Dockyard.
The forts are circular giving all-round defence. Accommodation casemates and magazines were on the ground floor with gun casemates above, all casemates being built around a circular parade ground. Early in 1863 the design was changed, moving the magazines from a central location to the sides. This caused a shift in weight resulting in cracks in the masonry at Hoo, then Darnet. This was arrested with iron bands round the masonry and iron tie rods into the concrete.
The forts were disarmed before WW1 but remained in care and maintenance until 1920.
In 1930 experiments were carried out at Hoo Fort, and to a lesser extent at Darnet Fort, ‘to ascertain the likely damage to undergound magazines caused by accidental explosion of stored cases of cordite’.
In WW2 they served as observation posts, with small brick structures built on their tops. Both forts remain in reasonable condition, apart form some flooding to the basements. Darnet is owned by Gillingham Borough council.
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