The Palmerston Forts are a group of forts and associated structures built during the Victorian period on the recommendations of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom. The name comes from their association with Lord Palmerston, who was Prime Minister at the time and promoted the idea.

The structures were built as a response to a perceived threat of a French invasion. The works were also known as Palmerston's Follies as, by the time they were completed the threat (if it had ever existed) had passed, largely due to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and technological advancements leading to the guns becoming out-of-date.

As well as new structures, extensive modifications were made to existing defences.

The defences on the Isle of Wight were built to protect the approaches to the Solent, Southampton and Portsmouth. They consist of three separate groups, those at the western end of the island, those at the eastern end, and four built in the Solent.

The information in the tables is taken from documents for each site, from the Victorian Forts website.Victorian Forts website citation sheets for each location. Retrieved 2012-01-22. (PDF files).

Western end

Site nameLocationOpen to the public? Construction began Construction ended CostGrid referenceMap Fort Victoria Sconce Point, Yarmouth18521855£40,000* Fort Albert (aka 'Cliff End Fort') Cliff End, Freshwater18541856Unknown Freshwater Redoubt Freshwater Bay18551856Unknown The Needles Batteries Alum Bay18611863£7,656 Warden Point Battery Warden Point, Freshwater18621863£12,899 Cliff End Battery Cliff End, Freshwater18621868£32,714 Golden Hill Fort Afton Down18631868£38,022 Hatherwood Battery Alum Bay18651869£5,825 The New Needles Battery Alum Bay18931895£9,821 Bouldnor Battery Bouldnor19371938Unknown

Eastern end

Site nameLocationOpen to the public? Construction began Construction ended CostGrid referenceMap Puckpool Battery Puckpool Point1863186520,864 Nodes Point Battery Nodes Point19011904£21,654 Steynewood Battery Whitecliff Bay18891893Unknown Culver Battery Culver Down19041906Unknown Bembridge Fort Bembridge Down18621867£48,925 Redcliff Battery Culver Down18611863£4,776 Yaverland Battery Yaverland1861186415,183 Sandown Fort Sandown Bay18611864£73,876 Sandown Barrack Battery Sandown Bay18611863£62,331

List of forts on the Isle of Wight

Solent Spitbank Fort St Helens Fort Horse Sand Fort No Man's Land Fort

References

Bibliography Solent Papers No. 2 The Needles Defences by Anthony Cantwell - Solent Papers No. 10 The East Wight Defences by David Moore -

External links Palmerston Forts Society Victorian Forts website