Sandown Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sandown Fort |
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| Sandown, Isle of Wight, England | |
Much of the fort has now been converted to the Isle of Wight Zoo by Ben & Lee
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 Sandown Fort
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| Coordinates | 50°39′38″N 1°08′21″W / 50.6605°N 1.1391°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Isle of Wight Zoo |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | September 1864 |
| In use | Zoo |
| Materials | Granite |
Sandown Fort is a historic fort located in Sandown on the Isle of Wight. It sits right in the middle of Sandown Bay. This fort was built to help protect the island from possible attacks.
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Why Sandown Fort Was Built
Sandown Fort is one of many forts known as Palmerston Forts. These forts were built all around the coast of Britain. They were created in the mid-1800s. At that time, people in Britain were worried. They thought France might try to invade. So, the government decided to build strong defenses.
Replacing an Older Fort
Before Sandown Fort, there was an older fort called Sandown Diamond Fort. However, in 1859, a group called the Royal Commission looked at Britain's defenses. They decided the old fort was not strong enough. It could not protect the area well. So, they decided to build a new, better fort.
Building the New Fort
Work on Sandown Fort started in April 1861. It took about three years to build. The fort was finished by September 1864. Building it cost a lot of money back then. Because it was made mostly of strong stone, people often called it the Granite Fort.
Fort Defenses
When it was first built, Sandown Fort was very powerful. It had 18 large guns. These guns were called 9-inch R.M.L guns. They faced out towards the sea. The guns were protected by thick iron shields. Later, these guns were made even stronger. The fort also got extra armor. This armor was 5 inches thick.
Sandown Fort After the War
The fort was sold in 1930. But it became important again during World War II. This war lasted from 1939 to 1945.
Role in D-Day
Sandown Fort played a big part in the D-Day landings. D-Day was a huge event in 1944. Allied forces landed in France to fight against Germany. To help with this, a secret project was created. It was called PLUTO. This stood for "Pipe Line Under The Ocean."
Fueling the Allies
PLUTO was a system of pipelines. These pipelines ran under the English Channel. They carried fuel from England to France. This fuel was vital for tanks and vehicles. Sandown Fort housed 16 special pumps for PLUTO. Each pump was very powerful. It could send a huge amount of fuel every day. This helped keep the Allied forces supplied.
From Fort to Zoo
After the war, in the 1950s, the fort found a new purpose. It became home to the Isle of Wight Zoo. Today, the fort is still home to the zoo. Visitors can explore the historic site and see many different animals.
