Fort Borstal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Borstal |
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| Borstal, Kent, England | |
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 Fort Borstal
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| Coordinates | 51°22′14″N 00°29′21″E / 51.37056°N 0.48917°E |
| Type | Palmerston fort |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1885 |
| Built by | Captain Siborne, R.E. |
| Materials | Brick and earthworks |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Events | |
| Official name | Fort Borstal |
| Reference no. | 1003402 |
Fort Borstal is an old military fort located in Borstal, Kent, England. It was built a long time ago to help protect the area around Chatham. The fort was part of a group of four forts that formed a protective ring around Chatham.
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Building Fort Borstal
Construction of Fort Borstal started in 1875. It was built by people who were serving time in prison, known as "convict labour." This means prisoners helped with the hard work of building the fort. The building work stopped for a while in 1885 but was finished around 1895.
Why Was Fort Borstal Built?
Fort Borstal was designed to sit on high ground southwest of Rochester. This high position gave it a good view of the surrounding area. The fort has a "polygonal design," which means it has many sides, like a polygon shape. When it was first built, it didn't have any weapons. However, during the Second World War, an anti-aircraft battery was placed there. This battery helped to shoot down enemy planes.
The Fort's Special Railway
A special narrow-gauge railway was built to connect Fort Borstal with the other three forts around Chatham. These forts were Bridgewoods, Horstead, and Luton. This railway had a track that was only 18 in (457 mm) wide.
There was also a special "incline" that went down from Fort Borstal to a cement factory and a dock on the River Medway. This incline used ropes to pull things up and down. Today, about 600 yards (550 m) of the railway track can still be seen at Fort Borstal.
What Happened to Fort Borstal?
After its military use, Fort Borstal was used for many years as a pig farm. It also served as a storage area for a nearby Young Offenders Institution. In 1991, the fort was sold to a company that wanted to turn it into a museum. However, this plan didn't work out.
Instead, Fort Borstal has now been changed into homes for people to live in. Because it is private property, the public cannot visit the site.
