Camp Down, Portsdown Hill facts for kids

Camp Down is a special place on Portsdown Hill in Hampshire, near a town called Farlington. Long ago, it was used by the British Navy as a way to send messages using a special system called a semaphore. Later, it became a small fort, known as a redoubt, which was part of a line of defenses called the Palmerston Forts. These forts were built to protect the important city of Portsmouth.

What Was Camp Down?

Camp Down served two main purposes over time. First, it was a communication hub. Then, it became a strong defensive position. Understanding these roles helps us see why this spot was so important.

The Semaphore Telegraph Station

Imagine a time before phones or the internet! People needed clever ways to send messages quickly over long distances. The British Navy used a system called a semaphore telegraph. This involved tall towers with movable arms or flags. Different positions of the arms or flags stood for letters or words.

A special building for this telegraph system was built at Camp Down in 1821. It started working in 1822. This station was part of a long line of semaphore stations that stretched all the way from London to Portsmouth. Messages could travel surprisingly fast along this line. The station at Camp Down helped send important naval messages until 1847.

Farlington Redoubt: A Defensive Fort

Years later, in the mid-1800s, new military technologies changed how wars were fought. Guns became much more powerful and accurate. This meant that older defenses were no longer good enough.

In 1859, a special group called the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom looked at how to protect Britain. They decided that Portsmouth and its important naval base (which was about 5 miles (8.0 km) away) needed better protection. An enemy army could now land further away. They could then march around and attack the city from the hills, where the old defenses at the bottom of the ridge, called the Hilsea Lines, wouldn't help.

So, a new plan was made to build a series of strong forts along the top of Portsdown Hill. Farlington Redoubt was one of these new forts. It was built right on the site of the old semaphore station. This redoubt was the easternmost of six forts planned along the 7 miles (11 km) long ridge. Its job was to stop any enemy trying to attack Portsmouth from inland.

What Happened to Camp Down?

Today, you won't find the old semaphore station or the redoubt at Camp Down. The area has been quarried away. This means that the land was dug up to remove stone or other materials, changing the landscape completely.