Nothe Fort facts for kids
Nothe Fort is a fort in Weymouth, Dorset, England. It sits at the end of the Nothe Peninsula, a piece of land that sticks out into the sea. The fort is located right next to Nothe Gardens.
This coastal fort was built between 1860 and 1872. It was made by the 26 Company of the Royal Engineers. Its main job was to protect Portland Harbour and Weymouth Harbour. At that time, Portland was a very important base for the Royal Navy.
The fort is shaped like the letter D. It has special bomb-proof rooms called casemates. It also has deep magazines for storing ammunition. The fort was no longer needed by the military in 1956. The local council bought it in 1961. Today, it is a museum. It is one of the best-preserved forts of its kind in the whole country.
Nothe Fort and its main gate are important historical buildings. They have been listed as Grade II* since 1974. Special steps nearby, called fusee steps, are also listed. These steps were used to move trolleys carrying ammunition and supplies from the quay up to the fort.
History of Nothe Fort
Military Use
Work on Nothe Fort began in 1860. The first step was to make the ground flat and build a sea wall. Army engineers, the 26 Company Royal Engineers, took over the building work in 1862. The fort was fully ready by 1872. It cost about £117,049 to build.
The fort was built on three levels:
- The magazine level was for storing ammunition.
- The ground level had casemates. These were rooms designed to hold large cannons. Soldiers also lived in these rooms.
- The ramparts were on the top level. This raised area was used to fire smaller weapons like muskets and light cannons during attacks.
The first soldiers at the fort were from No. 2 Battery Royal Artillery. They installed the first cannons. These included two 64-pounder guns and several larger 9-inch and 10-inch cannons. Later, even bigger 12.5-inch guns were added.
In the early 1900s, newer guns were introduced. These were called breech-loading guns. The older cannons were replaced with three 6-inch Mark VII naval guns on the ramparts. Special hoists were put in place to carry the heavy 100-pound shells from the magazines up to the guns.
In 1938, the fort was changed to store anti-aircraft ammunition for the south west of England. This included adding an electric hoist. Nothe Fort saw action during World War II. In July 1940, two ships came into the area without identifying themselves. The fort fired its guns as a warning. The ships then turned on their lights. They were actually refugees from the Channel Islands. During the war, the fort had four anti-aircraft guns. These were later replaced by a Bofors 40 mm gun.
The fort was no longer needed for defence and was abandoned in 1956. The Royal Navy then used it to store equipment.
Becoming a Museum
By 1961, the Navy no longer needed the fort. It was sold to the local council. The fort was empty for a while and started to get damaged. People had many ideas for it, like turning it into a fancy hotel. Work to make it a hotel started in 1971 but stopped soon after.
In 1980, the Weymouth Civic Society took over the fort. They started to restore it with help from a special employment scheme. In the 1980s, during the Cold War, part of the fort's magazine level was used as a nuclear shelter. This area had command rooms and living spaces. It also had strong blast doors to protect people inside.
Nothe Fort has slowly become a museum and a popular place to visit. It is open to the public today. After the first restoration work, the fort received a large grant of £1.8 million. It also got more money from local groups and English Heritage. The fort is run by a small team of staff and many dedicated volunteers. There is also a group called "Friends of Nothe Fort" that helps promote the fort.
The museum has many interesting things to see. You can find models, items from World War II, and original cannons and guns. There are also British and American WWII vehicles. The fort has many displays and audio-visual shows. The courtyard often hosts fun events like military festivals and concerts.
In 2007, a survey found that Nothe Fort was voted one of the spookiest places in the UK!
In 2012, hundreds of people volunteered at the fort for the Summer Olympics. About 150 people became marshals during the games. Around 4,600 people visited the fort every day to watch the events. The fort and gardens were closed to the public during the Olympics.
See also
- Brewers Quay, a local shopping and heritage centre
