Work on the £7.5 million restoration of Newhaven Fort is under way and has revealed areas that were previously hidden from the public.
The preparatory work has uncovered tunnels that have had to be assessed before the restoration project could begin.
Pilbeam Construction, the main contractor, has started work on the Romney Hut, with the whole project expected to take until the end of the year to complete.
If all goes to plan, the fort should reopen to the public early next year, with visitors able to explore areas such as the battery observation post for the first time.
The observation post has panoramic views of the Sussex coastline – and the work should also make the fort’s scenic gun positions accessible again.
Fort bosses said that the work was essential to protect the longevity of the fort – and included structural and drainage works.
The restoration project is also intended to include better access and signage across the site to improve the experience for as many people as possible.
The Romney Hut, in the parade square, is being re-cladded and insulated and is expected to mean better year-round access – and a second casemate will be refurbished and open for venue hire.
Fort bosses said: “These spaces will be available for weddings, parties, meetings, school groups, community events and more.
“For younger visitors, the current play area is set to be replaced with a new much larger adventure playground.”
General manager Lindsay Lawrence said: “Since the fort’s closure to the public and our final school visits, we’ve been working tirelessly to prepare for its transformation – emptying out the casemates, removing old exhibits and carefully moving artefacts into safe storage.
“Our collections custodian Frankie and I have been delving into the history of the fort, Newhaven and Sussex to research stories for our new exhibits.
“It’s been a fascinating journey and we’ve uncovered many secrets within the fort’s walls – including a hidden tunnel revealed in the original 1871 plans.
“Working closely with our design team, we’re creating new exhibits to bring these untold stories to life, with a focus on personal histories to give an insight into ordinary Sussex folk’s lives and experiences.
“We’re so excited to be opening new areas and building brand new interactive experiences and displays. Our aim is to ensure Newhaven Fort is an exciting visitor attraction which Sussex can be proud of.”
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My Father and my Grandfather were territorial army in Brighton. Both RGA, ( Brighton 159 Heavy Brigade.) Grandad was called up to Newhaven fort just before WW1 ( I have his paybook) and was there for quite a while.
My Father was there between the wars ( I have photos) he used to tell me when they fired their large gun they would train it on a chequered board which was on the side of the Buckle Pub in Seaford then when they had the right bearing swing the gun out to sea to fire!!