Spitbank Fort

This review is for Spitbank Fort, one of three defensive forts built in the English Channel near Portsmouth. They were originally built in the 1860s by the then Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston. the building was delayed, and the forts are often referred to as follies, as they were never needed and considered to have been pointless. However, the forts were retained by the military until the 1960s, until they were sold by the Government to a private individual. Since then the fort has been used as a museum, restaurant and so on, and has been refitted whilst retaining most of the original features. I went there for a themed evening recently at the Fort, ...  Read the complete review

I have been visiting Portsmouth for many years, since meeting my husband as he has relatives, there we visit three to four times a year. I usually opted for the Gunwarf quays to get some retail theory but a few years ago I visited the Spit bank fort in the Portsmouth harbor and I have never looked back as it was a real eye opener. HISTORY On arriving in Portsmouth you look out across the port solent from either Portsmouth or Gosport and you are instantly hit with views of four huge circular forts. These are known as the 'Palmerston's Follies, each of these forts were build to protect Portsmouth's naval base from ...  Read the complete review

If you look out across the Solent from Portsmouth you will see a series of circular forts. You might think that doesn't sound so unusual but you'll think again if I tell you that they are built in the middle of the sea. These forts are part of a chain of coastal defences built to put a stop to any ideas Napolean may have had about invading Victorian Britain. He didn't. The Forts have been known ever since as 'Palmerston's Follies'. One of which is Spitbank Fort an unusual tourist attraction and function venue all rolled in to one. Situated a mile out to sea you reach Spitbank Fort by boat from the ...  Read the complete review

Spitbank Fort is one of four Victorian sea forts in Portsmouth harbour, known as ‘Palmerston’s Follies’. They were originally planned to protect Portsmouth naval base against French invasion. However, by the time of their completion it was apparent that France was not only not going to attack, but had never planned to do so. Hence the 'folly' nickname. Work had begun in 1861 but the plans changed several times; work was also delayed while the government debated the relative merits of such forts as compared to armoured ships. As a result, construction the fort was not finished until 1878. Of the four sea forts, Spitbank is ...  Read the complete review