Henley Fort, Guildford, England
Encyclopedia
Henley Fort is a fort near Guildford
, Surrey
, at the end of the 'Hog's Back' ridge.
. Its purpose was to protect the capital from the French army. Initially, construction was rapid due to the invasion threat, but slowed as that threat passed.
It is the most westerly fort of a 17 mile chain that would have formed a secondary line of defence before London. It was never used as a fort in the conventional sense, having neither the men or the munitions to garrison it. But it was used to train volunteers and as a meeting place.
It was also used in the Second World War
by the Home Guard.
It is also the home base of the Henley Fort Re-enactment Society. For more information or to join please visit
http://www.hfypes.co.uk
Henley Fort is the host of a charity music festival every August called Keilfest (See http://www.keilfest.com), the aim of which is to help raise money for the Chase Children's Hospice.
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, at the end of the 'Hog's Back' ridge.
History
Henley Fort was built as a mobilization centre during the 1880s as part of the London Defence PositionsLondon Defence Positions
The London Defence Positions were 19th century earthworks in the south-east of England, designed to protect London from foreign invasion landing on the south coast....
. Its purpose was to protect the capital from the French army. Initially, construction was rapid due to the invasion threat, but slowed as that threat passed.
It is the most westerly fort of a 17 mile chain that would have formed a secondary line of defence before London. It was never used as a fort in the conventional sense, having neither the men or the munitions to garrison it. But it was used to train volunteers and as a meeting place.
It was also used 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...
by the Home Guard.
Present
Today the fort is an Educational centre which sometimes has residential visits.It is also the home base of the Henley Fort Re-enactment Society. For more information or to join please visit
http://www.hfypes.co.uk
Henley Fort is the host of a charity music festival every August called Keilfest (See http://www.keilfest.com), the aim of which is to help raise money for the Chase Children's Hospice.