Portland Breakwater Fort: A Coastal Defence Fort of Portland Harbour
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.5
- Popularity
- Very Low
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Primary era
- Modern
- Eras represented
- Modern
- Civilizations
- British
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Fort
On this page7 sections
History
Portland Breakwater Fort is a nineteenth-century coastal fort in the United Kingdom, located at Fortuneswell on Portland, and was built between 1868 and 1875 to defend Portland Harbour and the Royal Navy institutions on the island. Its construction followed the recommendations of a Royal Commission, a formal public inquiry or advisory body appointed by the Crown or government, to protect the new harbour.
Design and construction
The fort was first planned in 1859 and designed by Captain E. H. Steward of the Royal Engineers, the British Army’s military engineering corps responsible for works including fortifications and coastal defences. Because the site was affected by subsidence, the circular fort was constructed on a granite base supported by a 200-foot (61-metre) diameter ring of stone laid on the seabed. The work cost £75,968.
Changing armament and wartime use
In 1892, the fort received seven 12.5-inch rifled muzzle-loading cannons. These weapons were loaded through the barrel, with rifling used to improve the stability of their projectiles. In 1907, they were replaced by two 6-inch breech-loading guns, loaded from the rear, and two 12-pounder quick-firing guns designed for a relatively rapid rate of fire.
During the First World War, Portland Breakwater Fort was armed with two 6-inch breech-loading Mark VII guns. In the Second World War, it served as an examination battery, a coastal-defence position responsible for checking and controlling vessels entering or leaving a harbour. By 1945, the fort had been placed on care and maintenance, meaning that it was no longer in active military use but remained under minimal upkeep. It was abandoned in 1956.
Later history
The fort has been Grade II listed since 1978. This designation provides statutory protection in England for buildings and structures of special architectural or historic interest. In 1995, the Dorset Sculpture Trust sought Millennium Fund support to convert the fort into an arts centre. Repairing it for commercial use was later estimated to require £10 million, and the proposal was not considered a priority by its owners.
Remains
The circular fort stands on the outer breakwater of Portland Harbour. Its granite base rests on the large stone ring laid on the seabed to address unstable ground. Portland Breakwater Lighthouse stands on the opposite side of the next stretch of the breakwater.
Fort structure
The main floor contains gun rooms and ports for 14 heavy guns. Beneath the gun floor are shell stores, cartridge stores, and engine rooms. The fort also has its own harbour and ancillary barrack buildings, forming a military installation with accommodation and supporting facilities as well as its gun positions.
Surviving armament
Remains of a cut-up 12-inch rifled muzzle-loading cannon can be seen out of the water and have remained visible for decades. The fort itself is derelict.
