 It had a small permanent garrison, consisting of a commander and his deputy, a porter, two soldiers and four gunners.The blockhouse may have been altered in 1545 but in 1553 it was disarmed.Although the corresponding blockhouse at Gravesend continued in use and that at Tilbury was eventually incorporated into Tilbury Fort between 1670 and 1683, the one at East Tilbury seems to have been abandoned before the end of the 16th century.