Fort Southwick, That Part in Portsmouth Civil Parish

FORT SOUTHWICK, THAT PART IN PORTSMOUTH CIVIL PARISH, JAMES CALLAGHAN DRIVE

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1104368
Date first listed:
30-Oct-1969
List Entry Name:
Fort Southwick, That Part in Portsmouth Civil Parish
Statutory Address:
FORT SOUTHWICK, THAT PART IN PORTSMOUTH CIVIL PARISH, JAMES CALLAGHAN DRIVE
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Location

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
I
List Entry Number:
1104368
Date first listed:
30-Oct-1969
Date of most recent amendment:
18-Mar-1999
List Entry Name:
Fort Southwick, That Part in Portsmouth Civil Parish
Statutory Address 1:
FORT SOUTHWICK, THAT PART IN PORTSMOUTH CIVIL PARISH, JAMES CALLAGHAN DRIVE

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
FORT SOUTHWICK, THAT PART IN PORTSMOUTH CIVIL PARISH, JAMES CALLAGHAN DRIVE

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
City of Portsmouth (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
SU 62823 06838

Details

PORTSMOUTH

SU60NW JAMES CALLAGHAN DRIVE 774-1/1/292 Fort Southwick, that part in 30/10/69 Portsmouth CP (Formerly Listed as: PORTSDOWN HILL Fort Southwick)

I

Fort. c1860. By William Crossman (Capt. Royal Engineers). One of a series of forts (Wallington (now demolished), Nelson, Southwick, Widley and Purbrook (qv) along the chalk ridge of Portsdown Hill, built for the defence of Portsmouth against landward attack in the 1860s, and known as Palmerston's Follies. Brick walls of England 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. PLAN/EXTERIOR: 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 2-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. This fort is similar to Fort Widley. It is mainly within the boundary of Winchester City Council and is accordingly listed there also. The southernmost part of the fort is within the Portsmouth Council boundary. Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Listing NGR: SU6610802158

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
474796
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Fort Southwick, That Part in Portsmouth Civil Parish

Map

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End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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