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Latitude: 50.8591 / 50°51'32"N
Longitude: -1.1081 / 1°6'29"W
OS Eastings: 462873
OS Northings: 106998
OS Grid: SU628069
Mapcode National: GBR BCH.2P5
Mapcode Global: FRA 86KT.Q5D
Plus Code: 9C2WVV5R+JQ
Entry Name: Fort Southwick
Listing Date: 24 September 1987
Grade: I
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1167213
English Heritage Legacy ID: 146608
ID on this website: 101167213
Location: Winchester, Hampshire, PO17
County: Hampshire
District: Winchester
Civil Parish: Southwick and Widley
Traditional County: Hampshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Hampshire
Church of England Parish: Southwick
Church of England Diocese: Portsmouth
Tagged with: Fort
SU 60 NW SOUTHWICK AND WIDLEY PORTSDOWN HILL
13/12 Fort Southwick
I
One of a series of forts (Wallington (now demolished), Nelson, Southwick, Widley
and Purbrook) along the chalk ridge of Portsdown Hill, built for the defence of
Portsmouth against landward attack in the 1860s, and known as Palmerston's Folly.
Brick walls of English bond, the outer face of the defensive walls are of flint
with horizontal and vertical bands of brickwork and a blind arcade at the upper
level. The structure is partly within and above the natural ridge; a polygonal
plan with four vertical faces to the deep dry ditch, a fire step behind the
parapet, and two-storeyed caponiers at the three corners (to give raking fire
along the ditches). Within this outer framework is an embankment with open gun
emplacements at the top. Below the central parade ground there are brick-lined
passageways, ammunition stores, and staircases to the several points, and behind
the caponier positions sunken embrasures for mortars. The rear (south) of the
fort has a set of barracks, and the south face is a high brick wall, originally
protected by a continuous ditch; there are entrances at each side, once approached
by drawbridges, comprising bold 'Norman' doorways of stone, with recessed orders
of mouldings, above columns. The fort contains many interesting details of
fortification design. Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Note: the southern part of the fort lies within the City of Portsmouth.
Listing NGR: SU6463209041
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