1 week Ago
Plans for a brand-new adventure playground have been revealed as part of an ongoing £7.5 million restoration project at a military fort and museum. Work has now begun on the adventure playground which will be unveiled at the reopening of Newhaven Fort early next year.
The design has been described as "a celebration of Victorian innovation” and is packed with a variety of references to the fort’s rich history. The plans include a giant tubular slide attached to a Victorian dirigible and a steam crane-inspired lookout tower, where children can climb and discover a secret entrance. The playground will also include a variety of accessible play features, including sound play, sensory items, interactive speaking tubes and an accessible trampoline and roundabout.
The playground has been designed by CAP.CO which has created outdoor play spaces at numerous heritage sites including Windsor Great Park, Blenheim Palace and the National Maritime Museum. CAP.
CO designer and "Professor of Play" Jono Burgess said: “ Since the Fort was built in the Victorian era, we wanted to celebrate the ingenuity and inventive spirit of the 1800s. Our design includes a sheltered play area called Ardagh’s workshop, named after the Fort’s original architect, Lieutenant John Charles Ardagh. With vibrant colours and a historical narrative woven throughout, the new adventure playground will be designed to be wheelchair accessible, with many accessible play features suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities.
Newhaven Fort’s milestone restoration project is taking place throughout 2024, with the attraction set to reopen in February 2025. Alongside the new adventure playground, visitors will be able to enjoy new interactive exhibitions and access to previously unseen areas, including a newly refurbished Battery Observation Post with stunning views out to sea. The historic Romney Hut will be restored and transformed into a versatile, year-round event space, suitable for school activities, weddings, community events , corporate hire and more.
Across the Fort, essential repairs and maintenance work are being carried out to ensure the historic Sussex landmark is preserved for generations to come..
