Fort Fareham |
| Hob Uid: 234459 | |
Location :
Hampshire
Fareham
Non Civil Parish
|
| Grid Ref : SU5720004800 |
| Summary : Fort Fareham was built between 1861 and 1864 for the defence of Portsmouth dockyard. It was to form the link between the Gosport Line, the Outer Line on Portsdown Hill and the advanced works in front of the Gosport Line. The other two forts of this advanced line were never built, but Fareham still had a tactical place without them, and so work began in October 1861. It was completed in December 1864. Until 2002, the fort was considered to have never been armed but records held by the Palmerston Forts Society note that, in fact, the fort was armed in the years 1868 and 1898. Fort Fareham was used for some years as barracks for siege artillery units based in the area before passing into naval hands. In 2002 the fort contained a business park and most of the casemates had been let out as industrial units. The site was also noted as being in a general state of neglect and Fareham Council had put it up for sale. |
More information : (SU572048) Fort Fareham [NAT] (1)
Fort Fareham (SU 572049) Fareham was to form the link between the Gosport Line, the Outer Line on Portsdown Hill and the advanced works in front of the Gosport Line. The other two forts of this advanced line were never built, but Fareham still had a tactical place without them, and so work began in October 1861. It was completed in December 1864 and was never armed. It was used for some years as barracks for siege artillery units based in the area before passing into naval hands. (2)
Derelict. The interior is occupied by an industrial estate. (3)
The Palmerston Forts Society has recorded the arms that were installed at the fort in 1868 and 1898. In 1886 it was armed with 1 x 7 inch RBL, 2 x 6.3 inch RML howitzers and 3 rifled howitzers. In 1898 it held 10 movable 4 x 4 inch BL guns, 6 x 40 pdr RBL guns and 15 x 7 inch RBL guns.
In 2002 the fort contained a business park and most of the casemates had been let out as industrial units. The site was noted as being in a general state of neglect and Fareham Council had put the fort up for sale. (4)
PastScape user sent comments via the website to highlight the fact that the fort had been armed in the past. Evidence for this is in source 4. (5) |