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Saturday Work Party - September
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The Saturday Work Party will meet at Fort Nelson on the following dates in September 2010: 4th; 11th; 25th (08.30 - 13.00) but with the following caveats - on the 4th the work party will not assemble until 11.00 as a PFS Committee Meeting preceeds it; on the 11th the work party will not go ahead if there is to be a PAV firing that day (to be confirmed). There is no work party on the 18th as there is a PFS visit to the Waltham Abbey Powder Mills. |
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Stokes Bay Lines
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In the 1840s and 50s the possibility of a French landing at Stokes Bay caused some concern and three batteries were built along the bay to counter this, two at Browndown Point and one at Gilkicker Point. All three were simple earth ramparts with little to protect them from direct assault. In 1857 Major Jervois proposed a complex system of moats, ramparts and batteries to close off the gap between the new fort at Gomer and the earlier fort at Gilkicker, Fort Monckton. This defensive moat was to become the ‘Stokes Bay Lines’. It ran from the rear of the Browndown batteries in the west to the glacis of Fort Monckton in the east and consisted of a ditch with rampart and five flanking batteries of various traces. At the western end No.2 battery consisted of a sea facing rampart with four casemated guns to fire westwards across the gap between the Browndown Batteries and Fort Gomer. Three more casemated guns fired eastwards along the first branch of the moat running towards No.3 battery. No.1 battery was at the rear of No.2 straddling the only coast road to Browndown army ranges and Lee-on-the Solent. It also covered the rear of a dam constructed to flood the Gomer marshes in time of attack by closing off the River Alver. A tunnel connected No.1 battery to the parade of No.2. No.3 battery mounted three guns to fire westwards along the section of moat towards No.2 battery. At No.3 battery the moat turned south towards the sea for a short section before continuing eastward to the lake at Gilkicker. This section of moat was flanked by No.4 battery. No.5 battery was to the north of this section of moat and mounted nine guns facing seawards. The River Alver was diverted into the moat system at No.1 battery and flowed out of the moat to the sea at various sluices along its length and from another at Gilkicker lake, thus maintaining a constant water level in the moat. Another section of moat ran southwards from No.4 battery and branched east and then north to rejoin the main moat west of No.5 battery. This secured the open ground in front of No.6 battery and the railway line to Stokes Bay pier. A small section of moat continued from the north end of Gilkicker lake along the rear of Fort Monckton towards Haslar sea wall. No.1 battery was demolished in the 1930s. No trace remains apart from the tunnel. The site of No.3 battery is inside a garden. No.4 battery is recognisable but little remains. No5 battery is relatively intact inside the qinetic Alverstoke site. No.2 battery is the best preserved. It is a grade II listed building and was altered in the 1980s to become Gosport Council’s Nuclear bunker. For a short period in 1994 it was opened as a D-Day interpretation centre. In 2010 the Historical Diving Society leased the Battery The upper emplacements are fenced off and are inaccesible. It can be viewed from outside the fence.
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August Newsletter
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Geoffrey Hallett has prepared the August edition of our newsletter.
Members can log in to the 'Members only' section of this website to view or download it.
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Heritage Open Days 2010
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9 to 12 September 2010
Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s fantastic architecture and
culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to
the public or normally charge for admission.
Forts open this year:
Fort Rowner - Gosport
Fort Blockhouse - Gosport
Tilbury Fort - Tilbury
Fort Cumberland - Portsmouth
Fort Perch Rock - New Brighton
Reigate Fort Walk - Reigate
Redobut - Harwich
Beacon Hill Fort - Harwich
Cumberland Bastion- Berwick upon Tweed
Henley Fort - Guildford
Fort Nelson - Fareham
Details here:
Heritage Open Days 2010
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The Stokes Bay Defences
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David is pleased to announce that his new publication,
Solent Papers No.8, The Stokes Bay Defences
is now available.
An order form can be printed here:
Solent Papers order form
You can preview part of the book here:
Stokes Bay Defences
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Fort Gilkicker development plans approved!
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Today it has been announced that the Inspector has recommended that planning permission be granted. The Secretary of State agrees with her conclusions and agrees with her recommendation. The Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector that the fundamental issue in this case is whether the intended development, and in particular the access/egress to and from the development, would be safe for its users and remain safe throughout the lifetime of the development. The Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector that the Sequential Test and Exception Test are not to be applied and that it is appropriate to consider flood risk across the whole lifetime of the development, i.e. to 2015. The Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector that the benefits of the proposal to the outstanding heritage asset of Fort Gilkicker would be significant and substantial.
The Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector at IR179 that while there could be some loss of species from the banks to be excavated, that does not amount to evidence of material harm to the adjacent area of national nature conservation importance, or to evidence that any of the species concerned would be permanently displaced. For the reasons given at IR181, the Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector that as a material consideration to set against the restoration of the Fort Gilkicker heritage asset, the impact on the golf course is not of decisive or substantial weight.
The Secretary of State concludes that the proposed development is in line with the development plan and would offer significant benefits in terms of the restoration of an important heritage asset. Although there is some conflict with national policy on flooding, he considers that the residual risk to future residents is capable of management and concludes that there are no material considerations which indicate that the application should be determined other than in accordance with the development plan.
Accordingly, for the reasons given above, the Secretary of State agrees with the Inspector’s recommendation. He hereby grants planning permission for the restoration of Grade II* Scheduled Ancient Monument, conversion to 26 dwellings, residents’ stores and interpretation room, alteration of 2 mounds to create public viewing points and improvement of access road and junction, in accordance with application number K.9316/7, dated 20 August 2008, subject to the conditions set out at Annex A.
Summary of the report here:
Report Summary
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Spitbank Fort £15million Refurbishment
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Spitbank Fort could be transformed into a conference centre and luxury getaway for rich corporations.
That is the vision of its new owner, bedding tycoon Mike Clare.
Details here: The News Portsmouth
Mike Clare, the founder of bed retailer Dreams bought the fort last November for £1m. He intends to convert it into a luxury retreat with eight or nine en suite bedrooms and a function room but work has not yet started as he is still finalising plans. He hopes to put the fort up for hire for anywhere between £25,000 to £50,000 per week.
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Bouldnor Battery
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The Forestry Commission is looking for new tennants at the battery and surrounding facilities in Bouldnor Copse on the Isle of Wight, after the current training comapny leave. More information here. |
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PFS Visit to Waltham Abbey Powder Mills
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Coach seats for the PFS trip to Waltham Abbey Powder Mills and Kelvedon Hatch on Saturday 18th September are selling fast. The seats are offered on a 'first come; first served' basis so if any PFS member wishes to be on the trip but has yet to apply, then please hurry. Details of the trip can be found in Newsletter 103; the application form in Newsletter 104. |
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Spitbank Fort
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Financial Times correspondent pays a visit to Spitbank Fort to see the refurbishment taking place, as it prepares to become Britain's most unusual luxury holiday retreat. The full story can be found at: Plans for an unusual holiday retreat  |
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Martello Towers: Pembroke Dock
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North East Martello Tower
A tower defending the eastern end of the dockyard and able to cover the water in front of it, was proposed by Colonel Bryce in 1817; like its counterpart, the South West Tower, nothing was done until 1848 when construction work started and when it was completed in 1851 a number of years elapsed before it was armed. Its life as a defence work ceased in 1881 when it was dismantled for the same reasons as the South West Tower - obsolescence. The Tower continued in use as married accommodation, this probably ceased after the First World War because of increasing health housing and sanitation requirements. After use as a store the local Council purchased the Tower in 1974 eventually restored it and it is now the Gun Tower Museum operated by the Pembroke Dock Museum Trust. The Museum is well worth visiting as the whole of the Tower can be explored, the main floor is the actual museum with a wealth of information on the locality and on the defences of the Haven. On the roof a 32pdr has been mounted in one of the gun positions on a traversing carriage and slide.
From the seaward side the Tower appears to be three towers joined together, at the rear the entrance is recessed into a large alcove and covered by loopholes on either side and from above. The Tower is three stories in height with a basement containing stores, a magazine for 198 barrels of powder and a water tank for 12,500 gallons. The ground floor (or upper floor) contains the main internal gun battery for the nine howitzers, divided into two rooms for the 17 man garrison, a room for the officer and the kitchen;immediately inside the entrance are two spiral staircases to the basement and the roof. On the roof are the three gun positions for the 32pdrs on traversing carriages firing en barbette whilst at the top of the spiral staircase is a covered loopholed musketry gallery protecting the entrance.
South West Martello Tower
A tower was proposed for the site by Colonel Bryce in 1817 so that it could cover the southern wall of the dockyard and protect the flank of Pater Battery. It was not until 1848 that construction started and it was well into the eighteen fifties before the Tower was armed. The Tower remained a defence work until 1881when it was dismantled having with its armament become obsolete “and not calculated to resist the effects of modern artillery”. Even before it was dismantled it was being used as married quarters and this no doubt continued until after World War I when it would have become unsuitable due to public health and sanitation requirements. Thereafter, the Tower was used as a store and navigation aid. The local Council purchased the Tower in 1974, did little or next to nothing with it then sold it in June 2000 to a private individual ostensibly for restoration.
The Tower is situated on the foreshore at the western end of the south dockyard wall so that it can fire down the whole southern face of the wall; it can also cover the southern flank of Pater Battery and assist with fire down the estuary. The Tower is octagonal in shape with three sides facing down the Haven, and is four stories in height. In the basement is the magazine, stores area and a water tank holding 4,550gallons. The entrance is at first floor level with embrasures for five guns and accommodation for six men,immediately inside the entrance is the spiral staircase that leads to the basement, the second floor and the roof. The second floor has embrasures for five guns and accommodation for six men whilst on the roof there was a position for a 32pdr on a traversing carriage; at a lower level there was a loopholed parapet covering the entrance and the foreshore to the south.
The South West tower is a private residence and the interior cannot be visited.
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Fortification Books
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David Tabner has informed us that he still has copies of his book 'FORTIFICATION The Forts of Portsmouth From 1860 Onward'
for sale:
3rd edition copies left - £7 each including 1st class postage
David
can be contacted here: databner@gmail.com.
You can preview the book
here: Fortification: The Forts of Portsmouth
He has
also recommended this book:
Port
Philip Forts by Keith Quinton
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English Heritage At Risk
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On Wednesday 7 July 2010 English Heritage published its At Risk Register 2010.
Between 1999 and 2007 the number of Grade I and II* buildings on the Heritage at Risk Register fell by 17% but since then there has been no percentage change in the number coming off the Register after being rescued. In 1999, one in six buildings on the "at risk" register was fully economic to repair. Now, 11 years on, it is just one in eight. The "conservation deficit", the difference between the cost of repair and the end value of the 1,218 buildings and structural scheduled monuments on the Register, is now estimated at £465 million, a 10% rise from 2009.
Fort Elson and Fort Fareham and Darnet Fort have been given a priority A grade.
Fort Burgoyne, Hoo Fort, Spitbank Fort, Horsesand Fort, and Cliffe Fort are all priority C.
Fort Gilkicker and Agaton Fort have a priority D grade.
Scraesdon and Tregantle Forts are priority F.
Golden Hill Fort is also category F.
Efford, Woodland, Stamford, Austin are all on the register.
The register can be searched on line from the link here:
E.H. at Risk 2010
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Firth of Clyde Artillery Defences
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John Guy and Jeff Dorman have published a book on the history of the Firth of Clyde Artillery Defences. It can be obtained from John Guy, 48 Ardent Avenue, Deal, Kent CT14 7UE at a cost of £13. (PFS members special concession (£11).
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Newsletter 104 June 2010
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Our Newsletter Editor, Geoffrey Hallett, has completed the June editionof the Society newsletter. Members who have supplied the Society with a valid e-mail address will have received a copy by e-mail. Members can also download a copy from the Member's section of this website. |
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No.2 Battery Stokes Bay
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The Historical Diving Society have agreed with Gosport Borough Council to take on the lease of No.2 Battery at Stokes Bay Gosport. The Society hopes to open a small museum inside the main east facing gun casmates. This will include an interpretation of the battery. The Society hopes to be ready to open in Autumn of 2010.
More details here:
The News
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Isle of Wight Military Road
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Military Road, (today part of the A3055) which was built along the south western shore of the Isle in Victoria’s reign, is reaching the end of its days. A landslip in February has brought the side of the road so close to the cliff at Brook that one lane has had to be closed. Although there is still a lot of hope that it might be diverted a little further inland, the road’s vulnerability to erosion may mean that it isn’t a sustainable option.
Full story and pictures are at:
End of the Road |
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Bouldnor Battery
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As part of a Forestry Commission program, large amounts of woodland in front of Bouldnor Battery have been cleared and the gun positions once more overlook the Solent. The structure itself is slowly degrading, but both gun emplacements are now strikingly visible from the Solent and their dominating position over Yarmouth Inspection Anchorage is much easier to appreciate.
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Sandown Barrack Battery
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Sandown Partnership, supported by Sandown Town Council, hopes to transform Sandown Barrack Battery, currently used as a flower garden, to attract more visitors to the Sandown Bay area.
The Isle of Wight Council, which owns the site, has given the group permission to explore the viability of developing and improving the fort and gardens but has yet to consider agreeing a lease on it.
More details here:
County Press On Line
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Western Heights Open Day
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The Western Heights Preservation Society (WHPS) is pleased to announce the success of their annual Open Weekend on 5th and 6th June 2010 when over 1,800 paying visitors took the rare opportunity to explore the tunnels and casemates, and enjoy the views from the Drop Redoubt on Dover's Western Heights.
Many more people enjoyed the free opening of the Grand Shaft triple-spiral staircase, Napoleonic living history re-enactments displays and others stalls in the Grand Shaft Barracks area.
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PAV Videos
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David Tabner has supplied the PFS with Youtube links to videos that he has produced on the 32pr SBBL firings at Fort Nelson.
They can be seen on the Video Gallery and on the PAV 32pr SBBL page of this site.
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English Heritage Guide Books
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English Heritage have made some of their guide books and publications available as a PDF download.
Here is the one for Fort Brockhurst:
Fort Brockhurst Guide Book
Search for others here:
Publications Page
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PFS Committee Minutes May 2010
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The minutes of the May 2010 Committee meeting are available for members to download from the Members Only section of this site. |
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Plymouth Forts
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Stephen Wass has updated his website
The Fortifications of Plymouth
with a new section on Plymouth Citadel.
The Citadel has some very good examples of Victorian ordnance including some 64pr RMLs on traversing platforms.
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The Redan No. 70
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The Redan Issue number 70 is now available for download as a PDF file.
Members Only Pages
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The Fortifications of Plymouth
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Stephen Wass has created a website on the Fortifications of Plymouth. The site deals primarily with the lesser known elements of Plymouth's defensive line and currently covers the Northern Line and the Staddon Line. There are plans to add some of the other defensive lines at a later date. The plans and photographs are particularly interesting. Visit the site here:
The Fortifications of Plymouth
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Fort Gilkicker Enquiry Part 2
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The Planning Inspectorate have confirmed that the additional sitting days for the enquiry into the application by Askett H awk Developments will be on 19 and 20 May 2010. The start time will be 10:00am and the venue will be Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower at Priddy's Hard Gosport.
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Spitbank Fort Development
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Clarenco have begun work on the refurbishment of Spitbank Fort by commissioning a survey of existing artefacts remining on the fort for English Heritage. The survey work has been undertaken by PLC Architects of Portsmouth. The PFS have been pleased to help with interpretation and identification of existing features.
Plans of the proposed layout of the fort can be found on Amazing Retreats website.
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Back Issues of Redan
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Some issues of Redan are available for sale to PFS members.
An order form can be downloaded from the Members Only page of this website.
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Fort Delimara Malta
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The Fort Delimara Preservation Society is actively seeking support and funds in order to prevent Fort Delimara from falling into the sea. The cliffs beneath the fort are eroding at a faster rate since the nearby Freeport Terminal's breakwater was built in the 1980s. Another possible casue of the erosion is the nearby power station. The Society needs funding in order to build a wave-breaking system that would eliminate the threats.
Heritage Malta had proposed a public-private partnership to restore the fort but the project never took off because of lack of funds.
More details on the Society's website.
Delimara Preservation Society
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Whitesand Bay Battery
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The owner of Whitesand Bay Battery at Plymouth (occupied by Whitsand Bay Holiday Park) has contacted the PFS with the news that the gun emplacements have now been cleared of static caravans. Part of the glacis has been reinstated and the owner hopes to open up part of the magazines to guests of the park. Photographs can be seen by visiting the Park's facebook pages. The fortlogs for this battery and the nearby practice battery, which has also been cleared, can be found on the fortlogs page of this website here:
Fortlogs
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Amsterdam Forts
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Bullethead has been busy compiling another Google Earth collection. This time he has produced one on the Amsterdam ring of forts. He has also updated the one on the New Water Line forts.
Both files can be downloaded from the Fortlogs page here:
Fortlogs files
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Spitbank Fort Development Plans
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Halley has informed us via the PFS forum that Amazing Retreats has been commissioned to turn Spitbank Fort into an offshore hotel and health spa with work apparently ongoing. Details and plans of the proposals can be found here:
Amazing Retreats Website.
The website states that
"The existing museum room at Spitbank is to be maintained and will follow the life of the Fort since 1860."
Also
"we intend to keep an on-line diary of developments from completion of sale to launch. As soon as we have stills, video or web cam images, this will be the place to view the on-line story of the exciting transformation and challenges to the team at Spitbank Fort."
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Bembridge Fort open in 2010
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The National Trust will be opening Bembridge Fort for tours on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month during 2010. The tour lasts for 1.5 hours and is conducted by volunteer guides. Places are limited and must be booked in advance. The cost is £3 per person.
Details and how to book can be found on the
IslandUpdate website.
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Spitbank Fort refurbishment
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The new owners of Spitbank Fort, Clarenco Properties, are currently working on plans for the refurbishment of the fort. On their website they state that it is likely to be several months before this venue is open to guests once more. They will publish details of the refurbishment on their website.
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Pathe News archive
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Whilst searching the Pathe News archive Alec Beanse has found a clip of Spitbank Fort in 1941. The archive contains very little of a Victorian nature but also to be seen is an interesting sequence of the Royal Engineers blowing up a Moncrieff pit on the Hilsea Lines and another showing some Victorian American Coast Defence artillery pieces firing.
Links to these can be found on the PFS Videos page.
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H.M.S.Victoria
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PFS member Paul Wood has supplied the following news item concerning H.M.S. Victoria:
Back in February 2000, the PFS Newsletter mentioned a TV programme about HMS Victoria, the ship that famously sunk as a result of the blind arrogance of the admiral in charge.
Amazingly, the Victoria has been found -and even more amazingly, she is the world's first VERTICAL shipwreck. She went straight down and powered into the seabed. The vessel is in a remarkable state of preservation.
Check out this website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQMQZ8ZNsi8
There are several videos on the Web, none unfortunately get down to the turret area as it is so deep. There is confusion whether the turret is still in place; some say it is, some say it isn't. Anyhow, there's no doubt she is now a fixed Victorian fortification, and very much within the PFS remit! There are some excellent internal views of the protected gundeck, and the 10" gun that protected the stern of the vessel.
Details of the finding of the wreck are documented here:
Victoria's Secret
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Fort Nelson: Explodes
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The Lottery funded redevelopment of Fort Nelson began today: Tuesday 10 November, with the Sexton Self Propelled Gun launching an attack on the now redundant commanding officer's bungalow outside the Fort. An unusual way of removing it, which can be seen on video by following the link below:
Fort Nelson: The News
BBC News & Video
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Spitbank Fort Sold
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Spitbank Fort was sold today for just over £1 Million. It was bought byClarenco, an investment firm run by entrepreneur Mike Clare, the founder of bedding chain Dreams just before it was due to be auctioned. The current owners say that the new owners will probably complete the restoration and it will be used for high-end and corporate parties.
BBC History of Spitbank Fort
The News
Spitbank Fort on Facebook
BBC Video
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PFS/PAV 2010 Calendars
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The Palmerston Forts Society and Portsdown Artillery Volunteer calendars for 2010 are now available to download from the downloads page here:
PFS/PAV 2010 Calendars
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Shoeburyness Ranges
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Alec Beanse has informed us that the Experimental Casemates, have been sealed by steel sheets/mesh with no provision for access and the emplacement fenced off. This will, we hope, keep out the vandals who have shown little regard for their historical integrity and significance.
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Fort Gilkicker
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The Secretary of State has "called in" the plans for the development of Gilkicker. Further details when known.
Calling in
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Recommend a book
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If you know of a good book on Fortification or Artillery then recommend or review it here: |
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Fort Gilkicker planning application
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On the evening of 11 August 2009 Gosport Borough Council's Regulatory Board approved the planning application by Askett Hawk Developments for the restoration and conversion of Fort Gilkicker. Fort Gilkicker is a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The application will now go before the Secretary of State for a final decision.
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Victorian Submarine Mines
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The Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Officers' Association has reported that at least two of a batch of four Victorian 500lb MkIII submarine mines are to be restored and put on public display in Simon's Town South Africa.
It is extremely rare for such mines to survive.
Full details on this website:
Minewarfare and Clearance Diving Officers' Association
Thanks to Alec Beanse for finding this item.
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Requests for information
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You are welcome to ask for information here concerning Victorian fortification, artillery, regiments and men who served in the Victorian forts. Please give as much known details as you can with an e-mail if you want a reply. |
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Upton Battery Weymouth
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A new fortlog for this 1902 battery built to defend Portland Harbour and Weymouth has been added to the Fortlogs page here:
Fortlogs
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No Mans Land Fort Sold
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Valued at £14 Million, the original price tag for this Spithead Fort was £4 Million. It has now been sold for £910,000 in an effort to recover money by the administrators of the company LEXI, a commercial property finance business which collapsed with £100million losses. Ownership is still being contested by Mr Harmesh Pooni who barricaded himself on the fort in an attempt to prevent it being sold by the Agents. He believes he could still claim rights over this Victorian seafort but he needs £50,000 to take the case to the High Court.
More details here:
BBC News
Island Pulse
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Bermuda guns
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Dr. Edward Harris has reported in the Mid Ocean News that three RML guns have been excavated from the beach at the northeast of the island below Fort St. Catherine.
Full details here:
Mid Ocean News
Fort St. Catherine is being extensively restored. This follows a recent project, supervised by Andrew Pettit, the Parks Planner for Bermuda, to put back a Moncrieff Pattern II carriage in Scaur Hill Fort.
Andrew reported "Under the direction of the Ministry of the Environment and Sports, the Department of Parks has made it a priority to restore the forts in the Bermuda Park System. Started in 2006, the Scaur Hill project was, from an historical point, unique to Bermuda and challenging to complete."
The Palmerston Forts Society were very pleased to assist with supplying information for this project.
Details here:
Mid Ocean News
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Defensible Barracks Pembroke
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The Western Telegraph has reported that Nick Bourne, the leader of the opposition in the Welsh Assembly, has expressed his concern at the condition of the Defensible Barracks in Pembroke Dock. Mr Bourne is reported to have said “The Defensible Barracks is a grade two listed building and quite unique. Construction began on them in 1844 to protect the Royal Dockyard in Pembroke Dock. Concerns have been raised with me about their condition and I understand Pembrokeshire County Council has listed the building as ‘at risk’. I believe this site has enormous potential as a tourist attraction, possibly incorporating a military museum, and action must be taken to preserve it as a matter of urgency.”
Mr Bourne has asked the culture minister and CADW what can be done to preserve the Defensible Barracks.
Read the article here:
Western Telegraph
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64pr RML mounted at Fort Nelson
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The Royal Armouries' technicians, ably assisted by the PFS project manager, Michael Forrest, have mounted the 64pr 58cwt RML on its garrison carriage and siege platform ready for the PFS 25th anniversary firing on 21 June 2009.
The siege platform has been constructed on the West rampart PAV re-enactment area where it can be used by the PAV to demonstrate how volunteer artillery would have drilled on this type of artillery piece.
More photographs can be seen here:
64pr 58cwt Siege Platform Project
A data page with information about the siege platform can be found here:
Siege Platform
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Forts Guns and Holes
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Geoffrey Salvetti has written a 'Concise History of the Palmerston Forts Society 1984 to 2009', as part of the 25 Anniversary celebrations of the Society. The publication, titled Forts Guns and Holes, will be sent out to members by post. Meanwhile members can download a copy by visiting the Members' Page here:
Members' Page
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Panoramas
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Panoramic views of Fort Brockhurst have been added to the gallery.
The Fort Brockhurst Panoramas can be found here:
Fort Brockhurst Panoramas
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New Tavern Fort Re-opens
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After extensive refurbishment, New Tavern Fort will be open to the public from Saturday 16 May 2009 to Sunday 27 September, weekends only. 12noon - 5pm including bank holiday Mondays
Entry £2.50 per person. Tours are at 1pm, 3pm and 4pm.
More details here: Gravesham.Gov
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Members' gallery
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The members' only gallery, which was never used by members, has been deleted and a new facility has been added to the Forum instead. Members of the forum are able to add pictures and comment on pictures.
You will find it here:
Members' Gallery
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FWA takes on more property
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Fontazzoni Wirt Artna has taken more property in trust - this time the most interesting Madleina Tower roughly below Fort Madliena on the extremity of Pembroke Camp. This tower was the only Knights tower to be 'tempered' with by the R.E.s in the 19th century. Furthermore it has a stone fougasse next to it, a Victorian 12-pdr examination battery that will need re-excavating as it is partly covered over and a WWII beach gun position for an captured Italian gun.
We've also formally taken possession of the old War HQ at Lascaris in Valletta. This includes a very large Victorian (1860) gun powder store still complete with some of its original lighting windows |
06 Mar 2009 by Mario Farrugia
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Refurbishment Works at Fort Rinella
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Over the past weeks Fort Rinella has been undergoing an extensive programme of refurbishment. This process has mostly concentrated on upgrading visitor amenities in an effort to increase standards, enhance the range and quality of service and thereby increase visitor satisfaction and value for money spent.
Read on for more details:
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Guestbook
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Please leave a message for the PFS here. |
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