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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