More information : (SZ 626993) Fort Blockhouse (NAT) (1)
Fort Blockhouse (SZ 626 993)
One of the original defences of the principal entrance to Portsmouth Harbour, Blockhouse began as a boom tower erected in the reign of Edward VI to hold one end of a boom chain. It was subsequently improved and enlarged and became known by its present title some time in the eighteenth century. In 1805 it carried fifteen 36-pounder and fifteen 18-pounder guns and was obviously an important work. The 1859 Commission saw no reason to make any changes there, but neither did they recommend the provision of any modern weapons, and it seems that very little was done with the work to bring it up to date. In 1867 its armament still consisted of 32-pounder smooth-bores, and no heavy RML guns were ever installed.
By the time of World War I it had lost its value as a coastal defence work and was in the hands of the Royal Navy, who used it from then on as a submarine depot. Today it forms part of HMS Dolphin. (2)
Still in use as part of HMS Dolphin. (3)
The Henrician tower was in a state of decay by 1585 and although proposals were made to replace it, little seems to have been done. As the Western end of the `harbour chain', it appears to have been replaced by a fixed point or perhaps capstan to hold the chain until de Gomme redesigned the harbour defences. In 1667 he built an L-shaped battery there with 17 or 18 guns facing South-East and 2 South-West. Talbot Edwards reported in March 1707/8 that `this work like the rest is all gone to ruine'. Thus, in 1708 the fort was rebuilt. The South-West side comprised 2 demi-bastions with gateway between them, a moat with drawbridge, a covered-way and glacis. The South-East side held the battery. By 1744 it was again delapidated but was improved to take 24 guns in 1750. Between 1817-20 the West demi-bastion was widened towards the sea and the open seaward battery of 19 guns was enclosed in casements shortly afterwards, and reduced to 13 embrasures. The North-West and North-East sides were still palisaded at this time, but this was remedied by 1832, and these sides were enlarged with casements between 1840-5. By 1863, the fort had reached its final state, with an upper floor battery raised on brick arches, above the lower embrasures on the South-East side. Unlike the other forts in the Gosport area, it was built and extended over a relatively long time span. (4)
Coastal battery. Buildings and gun emplacements remain (but with some slight alterations) [information from 1946 aerial photographs].Alverstoke. (5)
Documented. (6)
Fort Blockhouse located at SZ 626 992. The fort was completed in 1814. By 1902 it was armed with five 12-pounder quick-firing guns. By 1914 this had been reduced to two guns. During the Second World War it was armed with two 6-pounder and two 12-pounder quick-firing guns. These were manned by 125 Battery of 529 Coast Regiment. (7-8)
The building and emplacements remain with some slight alterations. (9) |