Palmerston Forts, Portsmouth
Encyclopedia
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 (under Royal Engineer supervision). In addition to the newly constructed forts, extensive work was carried out on existing fortifications.
As well as the forts surrounding Portsmouth, further protection for Poomouth was provided by existing and new defences on the Isle of Wight
.
The Portsmouth defences can be split into four distinct groups. The first are the four forts built in the Solent
. These sea forts were designed to protect the eastern approaches to Portsmouth Harbour
.
The second group are those actually on Portsea Island
. None of these was built as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission but did receive improvements because of it.
The third group are those located along Portsdown Hill
overlooking Portsmouth. These were a response to advancing weapons technology. This new technology made it possible for shelling
accurate over a number of miles to take place. The forts were intended to prevent a hostile force landing further along the coast, approaching Portsmouth from the mainland, taking the tactical high ground to the north of the dockyard. As such, the forts are designed so that all of their main weapons face inland, protecting Portsmouth from the rest of England
. This led to a persistent but incorrect urban legend
in the Portsmouth area that the forts were built facing the wrong way.
The final group are those on the Gosport
peninsula. Again, these were to prevent an enemy force landing along the coast and approaching Portsmouth from inland. As such, these again had their main weaponry facing away from Portsmouth.
Palmerston Forts
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...
that encircle Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
were built in response to 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...
dealing with the perceived threat of a French invasion. The forts were intended to defend the Dockyard
HMNB Portsmouth
Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the British Royal Navy...
in Portsmouth. Construction was carried out by the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
and civilian contractors (under Royal Engineer supervision). In addition to the newly constructed forts, extensive work was carried out on existing fortifications.
As well as the forts surrounding Portsmouth, further protection for Poomouth was provided by existing and new defences on the Isle of Wight
Palmerston Forts, Isle of Wight
The 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...
.
The Portsmouth defences can be split into four distinct groups. The first are the four forts built in the Solent
Solent
The Solent is a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England.The Solent is a major shipping route for passengers, freight and military vessels. It is an important recreational area for water sports, particularly yachting, hosting the Cowes Week sailing event annually...
. These sea forts were designed to protect the eastern approaches to Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
.
- 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 ...
- 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....
- No Mans Land FortNo Mans Land FortNo Man's Land Fort was a fort built in the Solent as part of the Palmerston Forts. It is 2.2 kilometres off the coast of the Isle of Wight and built between the years 1867 and 1880 to protect Portsmouth. It was built for a cost of £462,500, a considerable sum if adjusted for inflation*...
The second group are those actually on Portsea Island
Portsea Island
Portsea Island is a small, flat and low lying island just off the south coast of England. The island is totally within, and contains a large proportion of, the city of Portsmouth. It has the third-largest population of any island in the British Isles, after the mainlands of Great Britain and...
. None of these was built as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission but did receive improvements because of it.
- Fort CumberlandFort Cumberland (England)Fort Cumberland is a pentagonal artillery fortification erected to guard the entrance to Langstone Harbour, east of the naval port of Portsmouth on the south coast of England. It was sited to protect the Royal Navy Dockyard, by preventing enemy forces from landing in Langstone Harbour and attacking...
- Eastney Batteries
- Lumps FortLumps FortLumps Fort is a disused fortification built on Portsea Island as part of the defences for the naval base at Portsmouth.Lumps Fort dates from the 18th century. The earliest reference is in the records of the Board of Ordnance in 1805 which mention "Lumps Fort-three 32-pounder guns".By 1822 the fort...
- Southsea CastleSouthsea CastleSouthsea Castle is one of Henry VIII's Device Forts, also known as Henrician Castles, built in 1544 on the waterfront at the southern end of Portsea Island . The castle was built to guard the eastern entrance to the Solent and entrance to Portsmouth Harbour...
- Point Battery
- Hilsea LinesHilsea LinesThe 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...
The third group are those located along Portsdown Hill
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...
overlooking Portsmouth. These were a response to advancing weapons technology. This new technology made it possible for shelling
Shell (projectile)
A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to shot, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage sometimes includes large solid projectiles properly termed shot . Solid shot may contain a pyrotechnic compound if a tracer or spotting charge is used...
accurate over a number of miles to take place. The forts were intended to prevent a hostile force landing further along the coast, approaching Portsmouth from the mainland, taking the tactical high ground to the north of the dockyard. As such, the forts are designed so that all of their main weapons face inland, protecting Portsmouth from the rest of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. This led to a persistent but incorrect urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
in the Portsmouth area that the forts were built facing the wrong way.
- Fort Wallington
- Fort Nelson, PortsmouthFort Nelson, PortsmouthFort Nelson, in the civil parish of Boarhunt in the English county of Hampshire, is one of five defensive forts built on the summit of Portsdown Hill in the 1860s, overlooking the important naval base of Portsmouth. It is now part of the Royal Armouries, housing their collection of...
- Fort SouthwickFort SouthwickFort Southwick is one of the forts found on Portsdown Hill, which overlooks the naval base of Portsmouth in the county of Hampshire, England. It is the highest fort on the hill, and holds the water storage tanks for the other forts, supplying them via a brick lined aqueduct. Construction was...
- Fort Widley
- Fort Purbrook
- Crookhorn Redoubt
- Farlington Redoubt
The final group are those on the Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
peninsula. Again, these were to prevent an enemy force landing along the coast and approaching Portsmouth from inland. As such, these again had their main weaponry facing away from Portsmouth.
- Fort Monckton
- Fort GilkickerFort GilkickerFort Gilkicker is a historic Palmerston fort built at the eastern end of Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hampshire to dominate the key anchorage of Spithead. It was erected between 1863 and 1871 as a semi-circular arc with 22 casemates, to be armed with 5 12" guns, 17 10" guns and 5 9" guns. The actual...
- Stokes Bay LinesStokes Bay LinesThe Stokes Bay Lines were part of the great Victorian fortification of Portsmouth Harbour under Lord Palmerston. In 1857 Major Jervois had proposed a complex system of moats , ramparts and batteries to close off the gap between the new fort at *Fort Gomer, and the earlier fort at *Fort Gilkicker,...
- Browndown BatteryBrowndown BatteryBrowndown Battery also known as Browndown Fort is a fort in Hampshire, England.First erected in the mid-1840s as one of the Palmerston Forts, after this period the fort was continuously modified and its protective ability strengthened until 1888/1889....
- Fort Fareham
- Fort GomerFort GomerFort Gomer was one of the Palmerston Forts, in Gosport, England, the southernmost and first-built polygonal land fort in the defence line to the west of Gosport. It was located on land immediately to the west of the present Gomer Lane. Fort Gomer was the most southerly fort in the line of five...
- Fort GrangeFort GrangeFort Grange is one of the Palmerston Forts, in Gosport, England. After Gomer and Elson forts had been approved in 1852, further consideration led to a decision to fill the gap between them by three more forts, and Grange is the most southerly of the three...
- Fort RownerFort RownerFort Rowner is one of the Palmerston Forts, in Gosport, England. It is now an English Heritage property.Built circa 1858 as part of the outer defence line for Gosport along with Fort Brockhurst and Fort Elson to the North East and Fort Grange and Fort Gomer to the South West. The fort was later...
- Fort BrockhurstFort BrockhurstFort Brockhurst is one of the Palmerston Forts, in Gosport, England. It is now an English Heritage property.Fort Brockhurst was designed by William Crossman in the 19th century to protect Portsmouth...
- Fort Elson
External links
- Palmerston Forts Society
- Royal Engineers Museum Coastal Defence