Fort Victoriais a former military fort on theIsle of Wight,England(grid referenceSZ339898), built to guard theSolent.The earliest fort on the site was a coastal fort known as Sharpenode Bulwark built in 1545–1547 byHenry VIII,but these defences had fallen into disrepair by the 17th century. Fort Victoria was built in the 1850s. It was a brick-built triangular fort with two seaward batteries meeting at a right angle. It remained in use until 1962. Parts of the fort were subsequently demolished; areas of the fort that were preserved have become part of Fort Victoria Country Park.
| Fort Victoria | |
|---|---|
| Isle of Wight,England | |
 Fort Victoria's casemates. The brickwork in the foreground shows the foundations of the former barracks. | |
  Fort Victoria | |
| Coordinates | 50°42′24″N1°31′16″W/ 50.706667°N 1.521111°W |
| Type | Palmerston Fort |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Isle of Wight Council |
| Open to the public | Yes |
Listed Building– Grade II | |
| Official name | Fort Victoria |
| Designated | 28 March 1994 |
| Reference no. | 1209376 |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1850s |
| Materials | Brick, concrete |
Location
editFort Victoria is situated on Sconce Point west ofYarmouth.Its position overlooks the whole of theNeedles Passageand approaches to Yarmouth,[1]and is almost oppositeHurst Castleon the mainland.[2]Around 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) to the southwest liesFort Albert.
Earlier forts
editThe earliest fort on the site wasSharpenode Bulwark(alsoSharpnodeorSharpnore) which was constructed in 1545–1547 as part ofHenry VIII's coastal defences.[1]It was about 700 metres east from an earlier fortification known asWorsley's Tower.[3]Sharpenode Bulwark was a square earthwork with two angle bastions.[3]It fell into disrepair and was repaired or even replaced in 1587 byGeorge Carey,Captain of the Island.[1]This became known asCarey's Sconce.[4]The defences are said to have fallen into disrepair by 1623,[1]and at the beginning of the 19th century only ruins remained.[4]
Fort Victoria
editFort Victoria was built in the 1850s. It is a brick-built triangular fort with concrete gun-floors.[1]It has two seaward batteries meeting at a right angle.[5]It became a functioning part of the new batteries on the heights above.[1]At the same time a pier was built to serve the fort.[6]It effectively became a military barracks and storehouse until rearmed with more modern armament in the 1880s.[1]During theFirstandSecond World Warsthe fort saw service as a landing point and for storage.[1]Between the wars it saw little use with the royal engineers leaving in 1920.[6]
In the 1930s a proposal was made to run acar ferrybetween Fort Victoria andKeyhavenon the mainland.[7]An act of parliament was obtained in 1936 but a lack of funds meant the proposal was abandoned in 1938.[7]
At the start of World War II the fort was used as a training battery for coastal gunners and it was equipped withtorpedotubes mounted on the pier.[1][6]After the war it was used as aNational Servicetraining station.[8]Its military use came to an end in 1962.[1]
What remains today is a fragment of the fort.[5]The rear barracks blocks were demolished in 1969 to provide material for sea defences andIsle of Wight Councilpurchased what remained of the fort soon afterwards.[8]The fort is now a Grade IIListed Building.[5]
Fort Victoria Country Park
edit
Today the fort is part of Fort Victoria Country Park which occupies 20hectaresof woodland and shore on the northwest coast of the Isle of Wight.[9]The fort houses a number of attractions including a Reptilarium, Visitor Centre and amodel railway.[10]
The derelict pier can still be seen.[6]
References
edit- ^abcdefghijHistoric England."Fort Victoria (459492)".Research records (formerly PastScape).Retrieved28 August2015.
- ^"History of Hurst Castle".English Heritage.Retrieved28 August2015.
- ^abHarrington, Peter (2013).The Castles of Henry VIII.Osprey. p. 58.ISBN978-1472803801.
- ^abBritton, John; Brayley, Edward Wedlake (1805).The Beauties of England and Wales: Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Herefordshire.Vernor & Hood. p. 395.
- ^abcHistoric England."Fort Victoria (1209376)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved4 April2015.
- ^abcdEasdown, Martin; Sage, Linda (2011).Piers Of Hampshire & The Isle Of Wight.Amberley. pp. 164–165.ISBN9781445603551.
- ^abEasdown, Martin; Sage, Linda (2011).Piers Of Hampshire & The Isle Of Wight.Amberley. p. 238.ISBN9781445603551.
- ^ab"Fort Victoria Country Park, A Brief History".Isle of Wight Council.Retrieved28 August2015.
- ^"About Fort Victoria Country Park".Fort Victoria Country Park.Retrieved28 August2015.
- ^"Fort Victoria, Isle of Wight".Fort Victoria Country Park.Retrieved28 August2015.
Publications
edit- Cantwell, Anthony (1986).The Needles Defences.Isle of Wight: Solent Papers.ISBN1870113012.