Eastbourne Redoubt
Encyclopedia
Eastbourne Redoubt is a fort on what is now Royal Parade, Eastbourne
, East Sussex
, England
.
was built between 1804 and 1810 to support the associated Martello tower
s in defending against the threat of an invasion by Napoleon. It has defended the Eastbourne coast for nearly 200 years. Like its twin Dymchurch Redoubt
it was built as a barracks and supply depot for the towers, and designed for 11 guns, although only 10 guns were installed.
During the First World War
the Redoubt was used by the military police as a headquarters and temporary jail. Following this, the Redoubt was purchased by Eastbourne Borough Council for £150 with the plan to turn it into a venue for leisure activities. During the Second World War the building was requisitioned by the army to be used for storage. Canadian troops also spent time there in the build up to the D-Day
landings. After the war, the Redoubt was home to a model village (miniature park
) and an aquarium
. The model village was vandalised in the 1970s, and the aquarium closed in 1996.
opened as a military museum in 1977, and is now the largest military museum in south east England. It contains military collections of The Royal Sussex Regiment who moved to the museum in 1983, The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars (see also The Queen's Royal Hussars
), who moved in 1988 and the founding collection, the Sussex Combined Services. In addition the museum also features displays on the History of the British Army
, the Life of the Redoubt display and a model of the Redoubt Fortress.
Among the artefacts that the Museum possesses and displays is General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
's Steyr Automobile
1500A Afrika Korps
Staff Car, captured by the Royal Sussex Regiment in Tunisia, as well as a Mark III Centurion Tank
, a Russian bugle rescued from the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade
, a uniform of the Desert Rats worn at the Battle of El Alamein
in 1942 and a Gulf War camp of the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars. Temporary exhibitions are held each year and have recently focussed on Victoria Cross
es, the postcards of Donald McGill
and battles fought by British forces in Zululand during the late nineteenth century.
shows, and holds activities in conjunction with Eastbourne
Victorian Festival.
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The RedoubtRedoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
was built between 1804 and 1810 to support the associated Martello tower
Martello tower
Martello towers are small defensive forts built in several countries of the British Empire during the 19th century, from the time of the Napoleonic Wars onwards....
s in defending against the threat of an invasion by Napoleon. It has defended the Eastbourne coast for nearly 200 years. Like its twin Dymchurch Redoubt
Dymchurch Redoubt
Dymchurch Grand Redoubt is a fortification on the coast of Kent in England, built during the Napoleonic War as part of a large defensive scheme to protect the country from an expected French invasion.-Description:...
it was built as a barracks and supply depot for the towers, and designed for 11 guns, although only 10 guns were installed.
During the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the Redoubt was used by the military police as a headquarters and temporary jail. Following this, the Redoubt was purchased by Eastbourne Borough Council for £150 with the plan to turn it into a venue for leisure activities. During the Second World War the building was requisitioned by the army to be used for storage. Canadian troops also spent time there in the build up to the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
landings. After the war, the Redoubt was home to a model village (miniature park
Miniature park
A miniature park is an open space that displays miniature buildings and models, and is usually open to the public. A miniature park may contain a model of a single city or town, often called a miniature city or model village, or it can contain a number of different sets of models...
) and an aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
. The model village was vandalised in the 1970s, and the aquarium closed in 1996.
Collections
The redoubtRedoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
opened as a military museum in 1977, and is now the largest military museum in south east England. It contains military collections of The Royal Sussex Regiment who moved to the museum in 1983, The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars (see also The Queen's Royal Hussars
The Queen's Royal Hussars
The Queen's Royal Hussars is the senior United Kingdom light cavalry regiment. It was formed on 1 September 1993 from the amalgamation of The Queen's Own Hussars and The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars...
), who moved in 1988 and the founding collection, the Sussex Combined Services. In addition the museum also features displays on the History of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, the Life of the Redoubt display and a model of the Redoubt Fortress.
Among the artefacts that the Museum possesses and displays is General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Hans-Jürgen von Arnim
Hans-Jürgen Bernhard Theodor von Arnim was a German Generaloberst who served during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
's Steyr Automobile
Steyr automobile
Steyr was an Austrian automotive company from 1915 until 1990.Formed as a branch of Steyr Osterreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft in 1915, to diversify manufacturing, the founders hired 38-year-old designer Hans Ledwinka after he resigned from Nesselsdorfer-Wagenbau...
1500A Afrika Korps
Afrika Korps
The German Africa Corps , or the Afrika Korps as it was popularly called, was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of World War II...
Staff Car, captured by the Royal Sussex Regiment in Tunisia, as well as a Mark III Centurion Tank
Centurion tank
The Centurion, introduced in 1945, was the primary British main battle tank of the post-World War II period. It was a successful tank design, with upgrades, for many decades...
, a Russian bugle rescued from the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade
Charge of the Light Brigade
The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The charge was the result of a miscommunication in such a way that the brigade attempted a much more difficult objective...
, a uniform of the Desert Rats worn at the Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
in 1942 and a Gulf War camp of the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars. Temporary exhibitions are held each year and have recently focussed on Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
es, the postcards of Donald McGill
Donald McGill
Donald Fraser Gould McGill, was an English graphic artist whose name has become synonymous with a whole genre of saucy seaside postcards that were sold mostly in small shops in British coastal towns...
and battles fought by British forces in Zululand during the late nineteenth century.
Opening times
The museum is open to the public from April through to November each year. Opening hours are usually Tuesday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm. It is closed on Mondays except Bank Holidays. The winter months are used for building restoration and the creation of new displays.Events
The museum stages a number of events including wargamingWargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
shows, and holds activities in conjunction with Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
Victorian Festival.
See also
- Dymchurch RedoubtDymchurch RedoubtDymchurch Grand Redoubt is a fortification on the coast of Kent in England, built during the Napoleonic War as part of a large defensive scheme to protect the country from an expected French invasion.-Description:...
- Harwich RedoubtHarwich RedoubtHarwich Redoubt is a circular fort built in 1808 to defend the port of Harwich, Essex from Napoleonic invasion. The Harwich Society opens it to the public.- Construction :...
- Littlehampton RedoubtLittlehampton RedoubtLittlehampton Redoubt, usually known as Littlehampton Fort, was built in 1854 to protect the entrance to the River Arun at Littlehampton on the south coast of England, against possible attack by the French under the Emperor Napoleon III. There had been a previous battery on the east bank of the...