Chapel Bay Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chapel Bay Fort |
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| Angle, Pembrokeshire, Wales | |
Chapel Bay Fort
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| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
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| Site history | |
| In use | Museum |
Chapel Bay Fort is an old military fort located on the southern coast of the Milford Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It's about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the small village of Angle. This fort was one of many built to protect the important waterway. It is now a special historical building, known as a Grade II Listed Building. People sometimes call it "Chapel Bay Battery" too.
Building a Stronghold
Construction of Chapel Bay Fort began in 1890. It was finished very quickly, in 1891. The total cost was about £11,779, which was a lot of money back then! This fort was special because it was the first one in the area built using a lot of concrete.
The fort was designed to house 91 soldiers. It had rooms for them to eat and even a sick bay for anyone who wasn't feeling well. When it was first built, the fort had three large guns. These were called 10-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns. They were very powerful weapons for their time.
Guns and Changes
From June 1900 to August 1901, the fort was updated. It was rebuilt to hold newer, more modern guns. These new weapons were three 6-inch Breech Loading guns. These guns were easier and faster to load.
The fort stayed under military control during the First World War. However, it was no longer needed by the army in 1920. It was then sold to the Angle Estate in 1932.
From Military to Museum
Chapel Bay Fort was used again during the Second World War. A special observation post was built there to watch for enemy ships. After the wars, the fort was bought by private owners.
Today, Chapel Bay Fort has a new purpose. It has been turned into a museum! This was made possible with a large grant of £500,000 from the Welsh Assembly. As part of its restoration, one of the fort's original 10-inch guns has been put back in place. The fort officially opened to the public in April 2015. It's a great place to learn about history.
