PALMERSTON'S FOLLY by Linda Evans

Map of area described (18kB)

Several generations of Portsmouth people have given the nickname "Palmerston's Folly" to the Victorian forts on Portsdown Hill. Spithead Shoals, which rise like artificial island out at sea are sometimes included in this comment. The forts on the crest of the hill overlooking the town and harbour face inland, and to some people look the wrong way. Yet the development of new armaments plus the perceived threat of invasion, Prime Minster Lord Henry Palmerston, commissioned a revue and implementation to strengthen Portsmouth and the surrounding area. If there was an attack on Portsmouth from the North, none of the existing fortifications would be able to protect the dockyard and harbour against bombardment from Portsdown Hill. Neither Hilsea Lines, nor the newly-proposed line of forts between Gomer and Elson on the Gosport peninsula would be far enough advanced.

The Royal Commission received its instruction in August 1859, that it should begin work by considering the defence of Portsmouth. The report was submitted in 1860, the recommendations were: 1) To prevent landing from the enemy on the Isle of Wight. 2) Protection of the anchorage at Spithead. 3) Defence of the Needles passage. 4) Protection of the harbour mouth. 5) The land defences. These were divided between the Gosport defences and the hill forts.

Work began during the 1860's on these defences. These included: Isle of Wight and Needles passage, the recently rebuilt Hurst Castle, the four Solent Forts, Spitbank, St. Helen's, Horse Sand and No Man's Land were built. Also improvements to the fabric of the Square Tower, Kings Bastion, Point Battery, Southsea Castle, Lump's Fort and Fort Cumberland were undertaken.

 The moat was widen and walls strengthened at Hilsea Lines. The Gosport side of the harbour, Fort Blockhouse (now H. M. S. Dolphin) was updated. Besides five new batteries constructed along the sea front, there were six new forts built, Gomer, Grange, Rowner, Brockhurst, Elson and Fareham.

The War Department purchased the necessary acreage along Portsdown Hill from the Lord of the Manor Mr. T. Thistlewayte. Approximately 900 acres were taken over completely and clearance rights were obtained for another 1000 acres. Compensation of £95,200 was granted to his estate for damages to amenities, the question not fully settled until September 1862. Compensation for other residents evicted from their homes on the hill top is not known. Regardless of advice, the decision to build the forts proceeded in the same year.

The Royal Engineers were responsible for the basic design of the hill forts, with Colonel, later Lieutenant General, Sir W. R. Drummond Jervois R. E., in charge. The design was that they should be surrounded by a deep ditch on the West, North and East sides. Access is gained from ramps down to the bottom of the ditches from the fort entrances on the South side at the back of the fort. There was also a dry moat with varied depth from 40 - 60 feet and width from 30 - 70 feet around the five forts.

The escarp is about 10 - 15 feet thick backed by earthwork and surmounted by a rampart. The platforms on the inner side of the rampart were for additional guns firing over the parapet. South side, two storey accommodation was living quarters for about 250 men, there was also married quarters for twelve soldiers.

Either side of the barrack block was single storey rooms and a stable. The Southern face was protected by these gorge buildings and the entrance from direct manual attack. The walls had loopholes for rifle fire. Underground tunnels went from the Barrack block to the caponiers in the moat. The Barrack block walls were 4 - 5 feet thick with a thick reinforced concrete roof.

Fort Wallington, completed in 1865, was built on blue slipper clay. This meant that the escarp walls on the North, North West and West sides of the ditch slid forward and the parapet subsided. In the intervening space, additional walls had to be built, filled with concrete.

Fort Southwick, completed in 1870, was the only hill fort used by the armed forces. Along with Southwick House at H. M. S. Dryad, it was used as D. Day Headquarters. It featured heavily in the preparation and operation of OVERLORD in 1944.

Fort Purbrook, completed in 1870, was occupied by the Army until 1925. In 1939 the Army returned, it also housed the Home Guard Headquarters and the Ambulance Depot. The Navy used it for radar in 1947, and a Navigational School until 1968.

Fort Nelson, completed in 1871, it was so named because of its proximity to Nelson's monument - a pillar erected after the battle of Trafalgar in memory of Lord Nelson.

Fort Widley, completed in 1871, but during World War 2, it housed the Royal Engineers and a bomb disposal headquarters. In 1953 the Civil Defence had the lease on part of the fort, which served as county emergency planning and civil defence standby headquarters.

When the military road that ran along the crest of the hill was built, passing behind the forts on the South side this then enabled good communications between them.

From the time the forts were completed they remained the property of the War Department until 1920, then the Admiralty took over some of them. All Portsdown Forts played a role during the Second World War. Hasty alterations were carried out so that thousands of troops could be accommodated along Portsdown Hill prior to the massive invasion fleet just before D. Day in 1944.

There is a stained glass window, known as the "D. Day Window", in the West end of Christ Church, Widley, the Garrison Church for the Portsdown Forts when the Army were in occupation.

Given rise to the heavy criticism in Parliament only five out of the seven recommended forts for Portsdown Hill plus a redoubt at Farlington were built. Another criticism was that if the Portsdown Forts were in danger of being overcome by an enemy, the soldiers manning them would retreat down Portsdown Hill, to Hilsea Lines.

Most unfortunately it is quite impossible to include in this article all the facts and details one would like.

Acknowledgements: The Portsmouth Papers, published by Portsmouth City Council, and an article written for Solent Fortifications Radio Club, author unknown.