St Helens Fort

The construction of St Helens Fort was started in 1867 as a result of a Royal Commission report published in 1859. It is one of a series of defensive forts built by the then Prime Minister Lord Palmerston to defend the south of England against a possible invasion threat from Napoleon III.
Despite problems with subsidence, which forced many changes to the plans the fort was finished in 1880. It is situated close to Bembridge harbour so as to protect the strategically important St Helens Roads anchorage. During the two World Wars it acted as an anti-aircraft gun platform.

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