List of Palmerston Forts at Portsmouth facts for kids
The Palmerston Forts are a group of strong forts built around Portsmouth. They were created because people in Britain were worried about a possible invasion from France in the mid-1800s. These forts were meant to protect the important Portsmouth Dockyard, where ships were built and repaired. Army engineers, called the Royal Engineers, and other builders worked together to construct them. They also made existing forts even stronger.
The forts around Portsmouth are divided into four main groups. There are four forts built in the sea, in an area called the Solent. Another group is on Portsea Island, where most of Portsmouth city is located. A third group sits on Portsdown Hill, looking down over Portsmouth. Finally, there's a group of forts on the Gosport peninsula. Besides these, more Palmerston forts on the Isle of Wight also helped protect Portsmouth.
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Sea Forts in the Solent
These amazing forts were built on man-made islands in the sea. They were designed to protect the eastern entrances to Portsmouth Harbour from enemy ships. Four forts were covered in strong armour. Captain E. H. Stewart designed them, and Colonel W. F. D. Jervois oversaw the work.
Building these forts took a long time, from 1865 to 1880. It cost a lot of money, over a million pounds! By the time they were finished, the threat of invasion had passed. Even though the forts were armed and updated with new weapons, they were never used in a real battle. They were closed down in 1956 and later sold. Some of them have even been turned into hotels!
Forts on Portsea Island
These forts are located on Portsea Island, which is a flat island where most of Portsmouth city is built. These forts weren't new, but they were made much stronger because of the invasion fears.
- Fort Cumberland
- Eastney Batteries
- Lumps Fort
- Southsea Castle
- Point Battery
- Hilsea Lines
Forts on Portsdown Hill
These forts are found along Portsdown Hill, which overlooks Portsmouth. They were built because weapons technology was getting better. New cannons could shoot shells accurately over many miles. These forts were designed to stop an enemy army from landing further along the coast. They would prevent an attack on Portsmouth from the mainland, especially from the high ground north of the dockyard. That's why their main guns face inland, protecting Portsmouth from the rest of England!
- Fort Wallington
- Fort Nelson, Portsmouth
- Fort Southwick
- Fort Widley
- Fort Purbrook
- Crookhorn Redoubt
- Farlington Redoubt
Forts on the Gosport Peninsula
These forts are located on the Gosport peninsula, across the harbour from Portsmouth. Like the Portsdown Hill forts, they were built to stop an enemy force from landing nearby. They would prevent an attack on Portsmouth from the land. Their main weapons also faced away from Portsmouth, ready to defend against invaders.
