Fort Purbrook

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Fort Purbrook

Hampshire

Type: Palmerston fort
Location
Grid reference: SU67840645
Location: 50°51’13"N, 1°2’15"W
History
Information

Fort Purbrook is one of the forts built on top of Portsdown Hill between 1860 and 1868 on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom.[1] It was designed, along with the other 'Palmerston Forts' atop Ports Down, to protect Portsmouth from attack from the rear.[1]

The fort is open occasionally for craft fairs. It is also home to an activity centre which offers (but is not limited to) archery, rifle shooting and indoor rock-climbing. It is Grade II* listed.[2][3]

Guarding Fort Purbrook, the Crookhorn redoubt suffered from subsidence, and was demolished by 1876. The Farlington redoubt had only the ditches and gun positions dug, and was finally demolished in the 1970s.[4] The tunnel between Crookhorn and Purbrook has been rediscovered.[5]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Corney, Arthur (1984). Fort Widley and the Great Forts on Portsdown. Portsmouth City Museums. pp. 5–6. 
  2. National Heritage List 1092134: Fort Purbrook (Grade II* listing)
  3. National Heritage List 1387127: Fort Purbrook (Grade II* listing)
  4. "Portsdown Tunnels - legends & mysteries - Fort Purbrook - page 1". http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/legends_mysteries/palmerston_forts_p1.html. 
  5. "Portsdown Tunnels - legends & mysteries - Fort Purbrook - page 2". http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/legends_mysteries/palmerston_forts_p2.html. 


Palmerston forts on Portsdown Hill, Hampshire

Fort FarehamFort WallingtonFort NelsonFort SouthwickFort WidleyFort Purbrook