Spitbank Fort

Spitbank fort was designed to defend the anchorage and the inner approaches to Portsmouth Harbour from French Invaders, and act to provide a secondary line of defence against light draft vessels that had managed to pass the heavier fortified outer defensive forts.

Work began at Spitbank in 1861, but was stopped in Spring of 1862 due to political wranglings as to the suitability of forts such as these to protect the harbour.

The Commission, consisting of naval and military officers set to investigate the matter, submitted their report in 1863. They considered that it would be cheaper and more versatile to construct the forts, than to provide armour-plated ships, either movable or stationary, with connecting booms and chains. In spite of this positive report, the government let the matter stand for another year.

In the Spring of 1864, the construction finally resumed with the first stone being lain in March 1867 at a depth of 17ft below low water, and was completed in June 1878.

It was intended to mount 15 guns, in one tier, with nine inch iron superstructure occupying the half of the fort looking seaward, and six in granite casemates facing landward and towards Portsmouth Harbour.

The bill for the construction of the fort was finalised at £117,964, exclusive of the cost for the ironwork.

In 1871 the Defence Committee recommended that fort be rearmed with more powerful guns. Nine, new 12.5-inch, 38-ton guns on the seaward face and seven 7-inch 7-ton guns in the landward casements were fitted giving greater penetration at long ranges.

In 1882, Spitbank Fort was augmented with auxiliary armament in the form of 15 machine guns

In 1899, the role of the fort was changed to counter light craft instead of heavy warships. Two 4.7-inch guns were fitted on the roof and searchlights fitted, known as defence electric lights.

In 1956, the Coast defence program was disbanded and the searchlights and generators removed from the fort the following year. Throughout it's operational lifetime, Spitbank Fort was never tested against a Naval invasion and in 1952, it was sold to a private concern..

Since those days, it has seen a revival in it's fortunes and now provides a unique entertainent centre for all ages and tastes.