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accurate over a number of miles to take place. The forts were intended to prevent a hostile force landing further along the coast, approaching
Portsmouth from the mainland, taking the tactical high ground to the north of the dockyard. As such, the forts are designed so that all of their main weapons
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1,177,805. By the time the forts had been completed, the threat of invasion had long since passed and although the forts were armed and re-armed as technology advanced, they were never used in anger. They were decommissioned in 1956 and put up for sale in the 1960s, although they were not sold until
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the 1980s. The subsequent purchaser, in 2012, was
Clarenco (previously known as Amazing Retreats), operated by Michael Clare. His plan was for two of the forts to be converted into hotels and one into a museum.
135:, the low-lying island on which most of the city of Portsmouth is located. None of the forts were originally built as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission, but they did receive improvements because of it.
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peninsula. Again, they were built to prevent an enemy force landing along the coast and approaching
Portsmouth from inland, and had their main weaponry facing away from Portsmouth.
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The restoration was completed for
Spitbank Fort and No Man's Land Fort, both hotels at the time, but not for Horse Sand Fort. In 2020, the three were listed for sale.
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and civilian contractors (under Royal
Engineer supervision). In addition to the newly constructed forts, extensive work was carried out on existing fortifications.
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from attack by enemy forces. The four armour-plated forts were designed by
Captain E. H. Stewart, overseen by Assistant Inspector General of Fortifications,
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Live in your choice of
Victorian sea forts, from a boutique delight with helipad to a crumbling wreck that’s a blank canvas
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overlooking
Portsmouth, and were a response to advancing weapons technology. This new technology made it possible for
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The
Portsmouth defences can be split into four distinct groups of forts, comprising four sea forts built in the
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As well as these forts surrounding
Portsmouth, further protection for Portsmouth was provided by additional
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dealing with the perceived threat of a French invasion. The forts were intended to defend the
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These man-made island forts were originally built to protect the eastern approaches to
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The Victorian forts of Portsmouth, including those on the Isle of Wight
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face inland, protecting Portsmouth from the rest of England.
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overlooking Portsmouth, and a group of forts on the
47:in Portsmouth. Construction was carried out by the
313:Clarenco to operate a trio of forts in the Solent
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75:Palmerston forts on the Isle of Wight
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331:from the original on 12 July 2018
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175:These forts are located along
39:were built in response to the
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364:Victorian Forts and Batteries
325:"History of the Solent Forts"
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16:Group of sea forts in England
369:Portsmouth forts map on Bing
295:Fortifications of Portsmouth
131:These forts are situated on
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10:
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229:These are situated on the
449:Lists of Palmerston Forts
62:, a group of forts along
374:Palmerston Forts Society
91:Colonel W. F. D. Jervois
384:18 January 2007 at the
194:Fort Nelson, Portsmouth
379:Royal Engineers Museum
327:. Royal Naval Museum.
58:, a group of forts on
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41:1859 Royal Commission
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171:Portsdown Hill forts
127:Portsea Island forts
439:Forts in Portsmouth
411: /
444:Forts in Hampshire
219:Farlington Redoubt
121:No Man's Land Fort
87:Portsmouth Harbour
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253:Browndown Battery
214:Crookhorn Redoubt
145:Eastney Batteries
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415:50.783°N 1.100°W
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392:Solentforts site
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248:Stokes Bay Lines
32:Palmerston Forts
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388:Coastal Defence
386:Wayback Machine
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278:Fort Brockhurst
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189:Fort Wallington
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155:Southsea Castle
140:Fort Cumberland
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116:Horse Sand Fort
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49:Royal Engineers
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420:50.783; -1.100
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358:External links
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243:Fort Gilkicker
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199:Fort Southwick
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177:Portsdown Hill
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133:Portsea Island
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111:St Helens Fort
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64:Portsdown Hill
60:Portsea Island
35:that encircle
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238:Fort Monckton
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225:Gosport forts
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209:Fort Purbrook
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160:Point Battery
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106:Spitbank Fort
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333:. Retrieved
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258:Fort Fareham
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165:Hilsea Lines
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81:Solent forts
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418: /
273:Fort Rowner
268:Fort Grange
204:Fort Widley
70:peninsula.
433:Categories
301:References
283:Fort Elson
263:Fort Gomer
150:Lumps Fort
37:Portsmouth
382:Archived
329:Archived
289:See also
181:shelling
45:Dockyard
403:50°47′N
335:12 July
231:Gosport
68:Gosport
56:Solent
406:1°6′W
337:2018
29:The
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95:£
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