Fort Borgoyne, constructed in the 1860’s to protect Dover Castle, is now subject to a land management agreement partnership between the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the Land Trust, securing its future.
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) writes:
Fort Burgoyne, originally known as Castle Hill Fort, was built in 1861 at a cost of £88,053, but was never called upon to defend Dover Castle and until now has never been accessible to the public. On taking ownership of the fort and the surrounding green space, The Land Trust will begin a discussion with local communities, including residents, local business and heritage groups, about how the site should be managed.
Operations Director Matthew Bradbury said: ‘We’re excited about taking on the ownership of this very special site and are keen to work with local people to ensure that we preserve the fantastic heritage of the fort and help people feel connected to and involved with its future.
‘The Land Trust is a charity which exists to provide sustainable long-term solutions for land in order to benefit local people. Many of our sites across the country really contribute to bringing communities together to enable them to experience the benefits of outdoor spaces. That is our aim with Fort Burgoyne.
‘We have lots of exciting ideas about how we will manage the fort, but we are very open-minded and are really looking forward to working with the local community and to hearing their thoughts. The most important thing is that the fort continues to be part of what makes Dover unique and special, and that the local people feel involved with managing the fort in a way that they haven’t been able to before.’
The HCA has transferred the ownership of 42 ha of land as well as a sum of money which will be invested and used to manage the site in perpetuity.
Naisha Polaine, Head of Area for Essex and Kent at the HCA, said: ‘This is a positive step for local businesses and the community in Dover, who will be involved in bringing the fort back to life in a way that’s relevant to the area and local people. It is a spectacular site, so it is great that it will be opened up for public benefit.’
Cllr Paul Watkins, Leader of Dover District Council, said: ‘I am delighted that the future of Fort Burgoyne has been secured thanks to this agreement with The Land Trust. We look forward to working with The Land Trust and local people to unlock the potential of one of Dover’s great heritage assets. This provides a unique opportunity for the community to be involved in opening up this historic site, and cementing the district’s reputation as having one of the finest collections of publicly accessible castles and fortifications in the country.’
Maurice Raraty, chairman of the Kent History Federation also welcomed the news: ‘It’s good to see Fort Burgoyne about to get some care and attention. It will be a welcome addition to the attractions of Dover, to complement Dover Castle and the White Cliffs emphasising the historically pivotal position occupied by Dover in the defence of this island against a variety of continental armies.’
