Fort Brockhurst facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Brockhurst |
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Fort Brockhurst entrance
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| Type | Palmerston Fort |
| Location | Gosport |
| OS grid reference | SU 59600 02063 |
| Area | Hampshire |
| Built | 1858–1862 |
| Architect | William Crossman |
| Owner | English Heritage |
| Official name: Fort Brockhurst, Gosport | |
| Designated | 7 Aug 1967 |
| Reference no. | 1013401 |
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Fort Brockhurst is an old fort located in Gosport, England. It is one of the famous Palmerston Forts, which were built to protect Britain. Today, it is a special historic site looked after by English Heritage.
Contents
Building Fort Brockhurst
Why Was Fort Brockhurst Built?
Fort Brockhurst was designed by William Crossman in the 1800s. Its main purpose was to protect the important naval city of Portsmouth. It was built between 1858 and 1862.
It was part of a group of five similar forts. These forts formed a defensive line called the Gosport Advanced Line. The other forts were Fort Elson to the north, and Fort Grange, Fort Rowner, and Fort Gomer to the south.
These forts had very powerful guns. Their main job was to protect the dockyards from any enemy attacks. People at the time were worried about a possible French invasion. So, these forts were built just in case, but the invasion never happened.
Changes in Fort Design
Even before Fort Brockhurst was finished, new technology made it a bit outdated. Guns could shoot much further than before. This meant the fort was actually too close to the dockyard. An enemy could land elsewhere and still attack Portsmouth Harbour without passing the fort.
Because of this, another fort, Fort Fareham, was built further away. It was completed six years later in 1868.
Life at the Fort
Fort Brockhurst in Action
Even though it was a bit outdated, Fort Brockhurst was still used until 1957. It served many different purposes. Soldiers lived there, and it was used for storage and training.
In August 1914, a special army unit was formed at the fort. It was called the 9th (Heavy) Battery Royal Garrison Artillery. This was part of raising Kitchener's Army during World War I.
The fort had some minor damage from bombs during World War II. However, it was never used for its original purpose of fighting off an invasion.
Fort Brockhurst Today
Today, Fort Brockhurst is still mostly the same as it was when it was built. You can still see the parade ground where soldiers marched. You can also see the ramps where the big guns were placed. The fort is surrounded by a moat, just like an old castle.
Some parts of the fort still show damage from World War II bombs. This lets you see how the fort's walls were built. The fort is now used by English Heritage to store old collections. Sometimes, it is open for visitors to explore. The grounds around the fort are usually open to everyone.
How the Fort Was Designed
A New Way to Build Forts
Fort Brockhurst had a unique shape, called a polygonal shape. This was a big change from older forts that had angled walls called bastions. The new design allowed forts to fit better with the land. It also meant more heavy guns could be placed on the walls. This made the fort better at attacking than just defending.
Each fort in the line was built close enough to the next one. This allowed them to support each other with their guns.
Inside the Fort's Defenses
The fort was surrounded by a moat, like a deep ditch filled with water. To get inside, you had to cross a drawbridge on the southeast side. This led to a round building called a keep, which also had its own moat. The keep had twenty smaller guns for close defense.
The main guns, nineteen heavy ones, were on the top walls of the fort. Soldiers could reach them using two ramps inside the central parade ground. There were also eight lower guns, some in special rooms called casemates. These guns could fire across the moat to help protect the fort.
Outside the moat, on the north side, was a triangular area called a redan. Soldiers could use a covered path to get there. This allowed riflemen to shoot at anyone trying to cross the moat. There were also small defensive structures called caponiers at the corners of the walls. These also allowed riflemen to protect the moat.
Nearby Forts
Fort Rowner, to the southwest, is also well-preserved. However, a military base, now called HMS Sultan, was built around it in 1914. Fort Rowner is usually only open to the public once a year during "Heritage Open Week."
