Camp Down, Portsdown Hill
Encyclopedia
Camp Down is a location at Portsdown Hill
, Hampshire
, which was used as an Admiralty semaphore station and later as a redoubt on the line of Palmerston Forts, Portsmouth
.
The Admiralty Telegraph Station was built at Camp Down in 1821 and it operated on the semaphore line from London to Portsmouth from 1822 to 1847.
Farlington Redoubt was built on the site as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission
, as part of a series of fortifications built to defend Portsmouth
and its dockyard
(which is 5 miles (8 km) away) from a possible attack from inland, as the development of rifled gun barrels made it possible for an invading army to land elsewhere, circle around to the top of the hill and bombard the city from there, rendering the existing Hilsea Lines
at the bottom of the ridge useless. The redoubt formed the eastern limit of a series of 6 forts which were planned along the 7 miles (11.3 km) of the ridge.
The site is now quarried away.
Portsdown Hill
Portsdown Hill is a long chalk hill in Hampshire, England, offering good views over Portsmouth, The Solent, Hayling Island and Gosport, with the Isle of Wight beyond. The hill is on the mainland, just to the north of Ports Creek, which separates the mainland from Portsea Island, on which lies the...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, which was used as an Admiralty semaphore station and later as a redoubt on the line of Palmerston Forts, Portsmouth
Palmerston Forts, Portsmouth
The Palmerston Forts that encircle Portsmouth were built in response to the 1859 Royal Commission dealing with the perceived threat of a French invasion. The forts were intended to defend the Dockyard in Portsmouth. Construction was carried out by the Royal Engineers and civilian contractors...
.
The Admiralty Telegraph Station was built at Camp Down in 1821 and it operated on the semaphore line from London to Portsmouth from 1822 to 1847.
Farlington Redoubt was built on the site as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission
Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom
In 1859 Lord Palmerston instigated the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom because of serious concerns that France might attempt to invade the UK...
, as part of a series of fortifications built to defend Portsmouth
Palmerston Forts, Portsmouth
The Palmerston Forts that encircle Portsmouth were built in response to the 1859 Royal Commission dealing with the perceived threat of a French invasion. The forts were intended to defend the Dockyard in Portsmouth. Construction was carried out by the Royal Engineers and civilian contractors...
and its dockyard
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
(which is 5 miles (8 km) away) from a possible attack from inland, as the development of rifled gun barrels made it possible for an invading army to land elsewhere, circle around to the top of the hill and bombard the city from there, rendering the existing Hilsea Lines
Hilsea Lines
The Hilsea Lines are a line of 18th- and 19th-century fortifications built to protect the Northern approach to Portsea, an island of the coast of England which is part of the city of Portsmouth and its key naval base. They are now used as a greenspace and leisure area.-Natural defences:The island...
at the bottom of the ridge useless. The redoubt formed the eastern limit of a series of 6 forts which were planned along the 7 miles (11.3 km) of the ridge.
The site is now quarried away.