Tilbury Fort – Streets of Wapping & Coalhouse Fort
Set in England in the 1800’s Taboo follows the story of James Delaney, an adventurer who returns to London after the death of his father. The 2017 TV series was co-created by Steven Knight, who went on to create the global phenomenon, Peaky Blinders. The series reflects this mysterious world of the East India Company and its dark secrets, making Coalhouse Fort in Thurrock the perfect coastal location for Delaney (Tom Hardy) to be stalking the estuary mudflats.
Tilbury Fort is England’s best example of a 17th-century bastioned fortress, with its complete circuit of moats and outworks. Constructed on the site of a small Tudor blockhouse, originally built under the reign of Henry VIII, the fort was designed to defend the river Thames passage to London. It was nearby that Queen Elizabeth I famously rallied her army awaiting the Armada. Spend a day exploring the magazine houses used to store vast quantities of gunpowder, or enter the bastion magazine passages and experience what it was like for the soldiers who lived there.
The historic artillery Coalhouse Fort in East Tilbury, Thurrock, was built back in the 1860s to defend the Thames from seaborne attacks. The fort was equipped with artillery and defensive features that were advanced for its time. It played a role in many defensive strategies, such as during WWII when it was used for checking vessels for magnetic mines. The fort was decommissioned in 1949. Today, the fort is a beautiful historical site that is free for visitors to enjoy walks, make use of picnic areas, and the children’s play area.
BBC, FX Television, 2017
