St Helens Fort
Encyclopedia
St 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 (RML) guns
to landward and one 12.5-inch 38-ton RML gun
to seaward.
The fort is now in private hands and not open to the public. It was offered for sale in 2003. Any private resident would not have any access to local authority services, although it has its own artesian well.
Periodically (often in August) on one of the lowest tides of the year, there is a mass walk from St. Helen's beach out to the fort and back. At this day the causeway appears from the sea upon which the original materials were carried out from the shore at St Helen's Old Church, where there was formerly a quarry. Access is from this point, but also along the spit from Bembridge.
It has become traditional to hold a barbecue on the beach thereafter. This event is entirely spontaneous but safety boat services are provided by local yacht clubs.
The other (and all larger) sea forts are Spitbank Fort
, Horse Sand Fort
and No Man's Land Fort.
The Solent Forts- often known as "Palmerston's Follies" were built in response to a French invasion scare under Louis Napoleon III. This was due to the doctrines of the "Jeune Ecole" of French naval thinking, which emphasised attacking ports with small craft, instead of fleet action, but was also backed by the first ironclad battleship. This came to nothing with the defeat of France by Prussia in 1870-71.
The forts were later used for defence in the World Wars, although the heavier armaments proved unpopular with local householders due to the concussion breaking windows during firing practice.
Subsequently their main useful role has been as navigational lighthouses.
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...
, 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...
close in to the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
to protect the St Helens Road anchorage, it suffered badly from subsidence
Subsidence
Subsidence is the motion of a surface as it shifts downward relative to a datum such as sea-level. The opposite of subsidence is uplift, which results in an increase in elevation...
which forced many changes to the plans, ending up with two 10-inch 18-ton rifled muzzle loading (RML) guns
RML 10 inch 18 ton gun
The RML 10 inch guns Mk I - Mk II were large rifled muzzle-loading guns designed for British battleships and monitors. They were also fitted to the Bouncer-class flat-iron gunboats.-Design:...
to landward and one 12.5-inch 38-ton RML gun
RML 12.5 inch 38 ton gun
The RML 12.5 inch guns were large rifled muzzle-loading guns designed for British battleships and were also employed for coast defence.-Design:The gun originated from a desire for a longer 12-inch gun than the existing RML 12 inch 35 ton gun...
to seaward.
The fort is now in private hands and not open to the public. It was offered for sale in 2003. Any private resident would not have any access to local authority services, although it has its own artesian well.
Periodically (often in August) on one of the lowest tides of the year, there is a mass walk from St. Helen's beach out to the fort and back. At this day the causeway appears from the sea upon which the original materials were carried out from the shore at St Helen's Old Church, where there was formerly a quarry. Access is from this point, but also along the spit from Bembridge.
It has become traditional to hold a barbecue on the beach thereafter. This event is entirely spontaneous but safety boat services are provided by local yacht clubs.
The other (and all larger) sea forts are Spitbank Fort
Spitbank Fort
Spitbank 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....
, Horse Sand Fort
Horse Sand Fort
Horse 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....
and No Man's Land Fort.
The Solent Forts- often known as "Palmerston's Follies" were built in response to a French invasion scare under Louis Napoleon III. This was due to the doctrines of the "Jeune Ecole" of French naval thinking, which emphasised attacking ports with small craft, instead of fleet action, but was also backed by the first ironclad battleship. This came to nothing with the defeat of France by Prussia in 1870-71.
The forts were later used for defence in the World Wars, although the heavier armaments proved unpopular with local householders due to the concussion breaking windows during firing practice.
Subsequently their main useful role has been as navigational lighthouses.
External links
- St Helens Fort on Google Maps
- Map of Portsmouth Defences
- Description, History, Plan at Palmerston Forts Society website