Palmerston Forts
Encyclopedia
The Palmerston Forts are a group of forts and associated structures, around the coast of Britain
.
The forts were built during the Victorian
period on the recommendations of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom
, following concerns about the strength of the French Navy, and strenuous debate in parliament about whether the cost could be justified. The name comes from their association with Lord Palmerston
, who was Prime Minister
at the time and promoted the idea.
The works were also known as Palmerston's Follies as, by the time they were completed the threat (if it had ever existed) had passed, largely due to the Franco-Prussian war
of 1870, and furthermore the technology of the guns had become out-of-date. They were the most costly and extensive system of fixed defences undertaken in Britain in peacetime.
The defences were built to defend a number of key areas of the British
, Irish
and Channel Island
coastline, in particular areas around military bases, including:
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
The forts were built during the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
period on the recommendations of the 1860 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...
, following concerns about the strength of the French Navy, and strenuous debate in parliament about whether the cost could be justified. The name comes from their association with Lord Palmerston
Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, KG, GCB, PC , known popularly as Lord Palmerston, was a British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister in the mid-19th century...
, who was Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
at the time and promoted the idea.
The works were also known as Palmerston's Follies as, by the time they were completed the threat (if it had ever existed) had passed, largely due to the Franco-Prussian war
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870, and furthermore the technology of the guns had become out-of-date. They were the most costly and extensive system of fixed defences undertaken in Britain in peacetime.
The defences were built to defend a number of key areas of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Channel Island
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
coastline, in particular areas around military bases, including:
- Alderney
- Belfast
- BerehavenCastletownbereCastletownbere is a small town in County Cork in Ireland. It is located on the southwest coast of Ireland, in West Cork, on Berehaven harbour near the entrance to Bantry Bay. It is also known as Castletown Berehaven. The name of the town comes from the no longer extant MacCarty Castle, and not...
- Bristol ChannelPalmerston Forts, Bristol ChannelThe Palmerston Forts along the Bristol Channel include:*Brean Down Fort, Weston-super-Mare*Flat Holm Battery, Flat Holm*Lavernock Battery, Penarth*Nell's Point Battery, Barry Island*Steep Holm Battery, Steep Holm...
- ChathamPalmerston Forts, ChathamThe Palmerston Forts around Chatham, Kent include:*Fort Amherst, technically a Napoleonic fort but later extended.*Fort Borstal, in the village that gave its name to the youth offender's institution The Borstal.*Fort Bridgewood*Cliffe Fort...
- River ClydePalmerston Forts, ClydePalmerston Forts built around the River Clyde include:*Ardhallow Battery, Dunoon*Fort Matilda, Greenock*Portkill Battery, Clyde...
- Cork
- DoverPalmerston Forts, DoverThe Palmerston Forts that defend Dover 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 Port of Dover, that would provide direct access to an inavasion fleet, from capture. Construction was carried out...
- Isle of WightPalmerston Forts, Isle of WightThe Palmerston Forts are a group of forts and associated structures built during the Victorian period on the recommendations of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom...
- Milford HavenPalmerston Forts, Milford HavenThe Palmerston Forts around Milford Haven include:*Fort Hubberstone*Popton Fort*Scoveston Fort*South Hook Fort*Stack Rock Fort*Thorn Island Fort*Llanion Battery*Martello Towers *St Cathrine's Fort *Chapel Bay Fort...
- North Thames and East AngliaPalmerston Forts, East AngliaThe Palmerston Forts along the north bank of the Thames and East Anglia include:*Beacon Hill Battery, Harwich*Coalhouse Fort, East Tilbury*East Tilbury Battery, East Tilbury*Landguard Fort, Felixstowe...
- North East EnglandPalmerston Forts, North East EnglandThe Palmerston Forts around the north east of England include:*Abbs Point Battery, Roker, Sunderland*Cemetery Battery, Hartlepool*Frenchman's Battery, South Shields*Heugh Battery , Hartlepool*Lighthouse Battery, Hartlepool...
- PlymouthPalmerston Forts, PlymouthSeveral of the forts surrounding Plymouth were built as a result of a decision in Lord Palmerston's premiership to deter the French from attacking naval bases in the south of the country. The Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom reported in 1860 and resulted in a huge building...
- Portland HarbourPalmerston Forts, PortlandThe Palmerston Forts in the Portland area:*The Nothe Fort*Portland Breakwater Fort*The Verne Citadel*Verne High Angle Battery...
- PortsmouthPalmerston Forts, PortsmouthThe 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...
- Lough Swilly
- South CoastPalmerston Forts, South CoastA number of Palmerston Forts were built along the south coast of England on recommendation of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom. As well as new structure, many existing defences were improved...
(other than those included in specific areas)
See also
- Palmerston Forts: No Man's Land Fort, Spitbank FortSpitbank FortSpitbank Fort or Spitsand Fort or Spit Sand Fort or simply Spit Fort is a sea fort built as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission. The fort is located in the Solent, near Portsmouth, England....
, St Helens FortSt Helens FortSt Helens Fort was built between 1867 and 1880 as a result of the Royal Commission, in the Solent close in to the Isle of Wight to protect the St Helens Road anchorage, it suffered badly from subsidence which forced many changes to the plans, ending up with two 10-inch 18-ton rifled muzzle loading ...
and Horse Sand FortHorse Sand FortHorse Sand Fort is one of the larger Royal Commission sea forts in the Solent off Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. It is 240 feet across, built between 1865 and 1880, with two floors and a basement, armour plated all round....
. - Maunsell FortsMaunsell FortsThe Maunsell Forts were small fortified towers built in the Thames and Mersey estuaries during the Second World War to help defend the United Kingdom. They were named after their designer, Guy Maunsell. The forts were decommissioned in the late 1950s and later used for other activities...
from WW2 - High Knoll FortHigh Knoll FortHigh Knoll Fort is a redoubt-style fort of the English East India Company on Saint Helena, an island and British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean...
- Hurst CastleHurst CastleHurst Castle on the south coast of England is one of Henry VIII's Device Forts, built at the end of a long shingle barrier beach at the west end of the Solent to guard the approaches to Southampton. Hurst Castle was sited at the narrow entrance to the Solent where the ebb and flow of the tides...
the largest of the Palmerston Forts