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List of Palmerston Forts around Plymouth facts for kids

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During the 1800s, Plymouth was a very important naval base in England. It was a place where the Royal Navy kept its ships and sailors. Because it was so important, leaders worried it might be attacked by other countries, especially France. To protect Plymouth, many strong forts were built all around the city. These forts were like giant shields, ready to defend the coast.

Why Plymouth Needed Forts

In the mid-1800s, there was a lot of tension between Britain and France. People in Britain were worried that France might try to invade or attack important places like naval bases. To prepare for this, a very important leader named Lord Palmerston was the Prime Minister. He decided that Britain needed to build many new forts to protect its shores.

The Royal Commission and Building Boom

In 1860, a special group called the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom looked into how to best protect the country. They suggested building a huge number of new forts and defenses. This led to a massive building project, often called the Palmerston Forts programme. These forts were designed to be very strong and to hold large cannons. They were built to scare off any attackers and make sure Britain was safe.

Forts Around Plymouth

Plymouth was a key target, so many of these new forts were built there. They were placed in important spots to guard the harbor and the surrounding land. Each fort had a special job, working together to create a strong defense system. Even today, you can still see many of these impressive forts standing around Plymouth. They are a reminder of a time when Britain prepared to defend itself from possible invasion.

Here are some of the forts built to protect Plymouth:

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List of Palmerston Forts around Plymouth Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.