Exhibitions
Whether you fancy a trip into our Victorian past, or an action-packed dive into a World War One trench, or a peaceful lookout for enemy ships (or more likely wildlife and the ferry!) in the B.O.P., Newhaven Fort has something for everyone!
History around us!
Welcome to the most exciting location on the Sussex coast! Join us on a trip of discovery beginning in our Intro Theatre, before picking up your bow and arrow and exploring Stone Age to Roman Sussex in Before the Fort! After this, you’ll be there to see John Charles Ardagh designing the Fort, follow the forts story from the first brick being laid to the present day, and see what life was like in a Victorian artillery Garrison in The History of the Fort and Life in the Fort. As you weave in and out of the casemates, you’ll stop in and see the sorry state of the Fort before it was saved, and what secrets lie in its walls in Dereliction and Discovery! Perhaps you’ll find a hidden gem in our showcase Space, or in our gust collections: the Royal Observer Corps and Sussex Yeomanry! And there’s plenty more to see!
WW1
The First World War began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Serbia, and initially wasn’t anything to do with us! After joining the war that ‘would be over by Christmas’, it lasted four devastating years. Newhaven played a crucial role in facilitating the shipment of six million tons of supplies to France, and repatriation of the wounded. Our dramatic exhibition explores the war's events, featuring interactive displays that immerse you in this transformative period of history. Join us to discover its profound impact!
Women at War and the Home Front
Explore the home front like never before! Will you be a factory worker? Or perhaps a farmer in the Women’s Land Army? Or maybe you’ll join the Home Guard and defend house and home from Nazi Bombs! But watch-out! The Squander Bug is about! And he’s keen to make you waste and let Hitler win!
Dieppe and D-Day
We invite you to join the generals as they brief each other for the Dieppe raid and D-Day! Gather round the plotting table and hear how the tragedy of the world’s largest commando raid, and then the largest seaborne invasion in history could not have been possible without the Sussex coastline and the key port of Newhaven! This immersive experience is unlike any other!
Sussex – The Front Line
During the Second World War, Sussex was at the doorstep of Nazi occupied Europe. For Four long years, Sussex was the front line of the action! From streams of German and Allied bombers, to daring Commando raids and fierce battles for the control of the English Channel, Sussex saw it all and did it all! See how the port of Newhaven was instrumental in Hitler’s downfall, and how the war impacted everyone and everything in Sussex.
Battery Observation Post
Who knew that one of the most important rooms in Newhaven was at the Fort? Well… we did! That’s why after four decades we have finally opened the Battery Observation Post for visitors! Dive into the story of Gunpowder and discover how our ‘big guns’ worked, and how different shells are used for different things! Gaze out of the Observation Rooms panoramic window, spot ships with binoculars and command the guns from our commander’s seat! This one’s got to be seen to be believed!
Book your visit today
Whether you’re a family seeking adventure, those craving nostalgia, or a history enthusiast, Newhaven Fort promises a day of discovery and wonder. All of our standard entry tickets are valid for 12 months and allow free return visits during seasonal opening hours.
