Freshwater Redoubt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freshwater Redoubt |
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| Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England | |
Fort Redoubt on the cliff of Freshwater Bay.
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 Freshwater Redoubt
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| Coordinates | 50°40′10″N 1°30′45″W / 50.669497°N 1.512466°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private residence |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1855-1856 |
| In use | 1856-1928 |
| Materials | Brick |
Freshwater Redoubt, also known as Fort Redoubt, is an old fort built in Freshwater Bay. This bay is located on the western side of the Isle of Wight in England. The fort was built between 1855 and 1856. It was sold in 1928 and is now a private home.
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A Fort for Defense
Freshwater Redoubt is a type of fort called a Palmerston fort. These forts were built to protect Britain's coastlines. This fort was finished in 1856. Its main job was to defend Freshwater Bay. This bay was seen as a possible place for enemy soldiers to land.
Protecting the Fort
The fort had a deep, dry ditch around it. This ditch helped protect the fort from attacks by land. Inside the ditch was a special building called a Caponier. This building could house 24 soldiers. It had strong iron window-shutters and narrow openings for rifles. These openings, called embrasures, allowed soldiers to fire at enemies in the ditch.
The fort's original bridge had a part that could be pulled back. This made it harder for enemies to get inside. The main building was first a single-story barracks. It had rooms for officers, a kitchen, and sleeping areas for soldiers.
Guns and Batteries
Freshwater Redoubt was designed with two main gun areas, called batteries. These batteries held a total of seven guns. The Upper Battery faced the sea and had four gun spots. The Lower Battery had three gun spots and covered Freshwater Bay.
Over time, the guns were updated. Early guns were muzzle-loading, meaning they were loaded from the front. They used gunpowder and fired cannonballs. Later, these were replaced with rifled, breech-loading guns. These newer guns were loaded from the back and fired shells. This showed how military technology improved.
Where the Fort Stands
The fort is located on the western headland of Freshwater Bay. It sits at the bottom of Tennyson Down. From the fort, you can see amazing views. To the east, you see Freshwater Bay. To the south and west, you see the English Channel. The Solent, a strait, is visible to the north.
From the top of the fort's drive, you can see the Isle of Wight coast. This view stretches along Compton Bay and past places like Atherfield Point and Blackgang. You can even see St. Catherine’s Point in the distance. A small tower on rocks near Hanover Point is an old army marker. Guns would always fire into the sea past this point.
The Fort Today
Locally, the fort is known as Fort Redoubt. The army sold it in 1928, and it is now privately owned. In 1936, the main building was changed into a two-story private home. More work was done in 1976 but not finished. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was even a tea room!
The current owners have completed their home in the main building. They have also improved the grounds. The bridge over the moat was replaced in 2011. Like the old bridge, it offers a view of the Caponier in the moat.
Caponier Restoration
The Caponier building in the ditch was once barracks for 24 soldiers. By 2000, its roof and floors were gone. Only the brick walls remained. When ivy was removed, the brickwork was found to be in good shape.
Getting into the Caponier is tricky. You go through a brick tunnel and down 19 steps. This made bringing in materials difficult. In 2014, work began to fix the Caponier. They made the brickwork stable and added a new roof and first floor. By 2017, new windows and shutters were installed. This made the building weatherproof for the first time in over 40 years.
In 2018, work started to turn the building into two holiday rentals. A temporary scaffold bridge was built to help with the work. This bridge was removed when the project finished in 2020.
Keeping History Alive
During the restoration, great care was taken to keep the Caponier's history. Original metal hooks for soldiers' hammocks were kept. The gun slits, or embrasures, were also kept and glazed. This preserved their original view lines. The thick, two-foot brick walls were left exposed. This shows the building's original military purpose.
The Caponier is now two comfortable holiday homes. They are spread over two floors.
Moonfleet Cottage
Moonfleet cottage is also on the grounds. It was originally a home for the master gunner and his family. Now, it is a holiday cottage called Moonfleet. Since 1994, it has been a Grade II Listed Building. This means it is an important historical building.
In 2005, Peter White wrote an opera called Moonfleet. It was based on the story Moonfleet by J. Meade Falkner. He wrote it while staying at Fort Redoubt!
Images for kids
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Courtyard January 2013
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Deralict Caponier 2008
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Aerial Photo of Freshwater Redoubt Feb 2018
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Scaffold bridge to facilitate caponier
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Caponier 2020 from West looking East
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Plan of Freshwater Redoubt
