Newhaven Fort prepares to reopen following £1.2m revamp

Visitors will be welcomed back to the historic attraction this Saturday.

Since it was forced to close last year, the entrance bridge to the fort has been replaced by Lewes District Council at a cost of £350,000.

Meanwhile Wave Leisure Trust, which manages the attraction, has launched a range of new exhibitions funded by a £850,000 grant from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund as part of #HereForCulture campaign.

Exhibitions which have benefitted from the funding include the theatre, which now features an impressive 6m wide screen showcasing a film to introduce the history of the fort, as well as new exhibitions – Life in the Fort, History of the Fort and The Hidden Fort.

The History of the Fort exhibition features an audio-visual show using the voice of the Forts designer, Lieutenant J.C. Ardagh, which guides visitors through the planning and design of the Fort.

A projector over the centrepiece model is used to create a 3D animation.

Displays have been refreshed, including new objects and artefacts to educate visitors about the social history of life linked to the Fort over the past 150 years.

In addition, a video tour in The Hidden Fort exhibition provides an opportunity for visitors to experience the tunnels of the fort, which are no longer accessible to all.

New visitor facilities at the fort include a refreshed play area for children, prebooked ticketing and improvements to the activity centre for school visits.

The Tearoom has also been re-designed to reflect a 1940s British Restaurant.

Duncan Kerr, CEO at Wave Leisure Trust, said: “We can’t wait to open our doors again.

“This year we’re celebrating the Fort’s 150th year – a remarkable event and one that we’ll be celebrating with visitors new and old.

“The next exhibitions really do take our historic attraction to the next level and we are grateful to have had the opportunity thanks to the Cultural Recovery Fund to improve the experience for our visitors.

“Get your tickets now, we can’t wait to see you.”

Councillor Ruth O’Keeffe, Cabinet member for Tourism and Devolution, said: “I am delighted the fort, which plays a very important role in our district’s heritage, is back open again for local people and tourists alike to enjoy.

“We decided to make a substantial investment to replace the bridge, rather than keep on making temporary repairs, such is the value we place on keeping the fort open for future generations.”

Councillor James MacCleary, Leader of Lewes District Council and local councillor for Newhaven South, said: “It is fantastic to see the culmination of the major works that have been taking place at the fort while it has been closed.

“This is yet another triumph for Newhaven, building on the success of our Future High Streets Fund bid to transform the town, the upcoming opening of our new riverside venue at Railway Quay, as well as news on our multi-million Town Fund bid.

“Living a short walk from the fort, I’ll be visiting with the family soon.”