Fort Borstal
Encyclopedia


Fort Borstal was built as an afterthought from the 1859 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom
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...

, by convict labour between 1875 and 1885, to hold the high ground southwest of Rochester, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...

. It is of polygonal design and was never originally armed. An anti-aircraft battery was based there in the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

.

After many years' use as a pig farm for the nearby Young Offenders Institution it was sold in 1991 to a company hoping to make it a museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...

, but that proved unsuccessful and the fort has been converted into living accommodation. There is no public access to the site.






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