Fort Nelson
FORT NELSON
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1350616
- Date first listed:
- 22-Dec-1971
- List Entry Name:
- Fort Nelson
- Statutory Address:
- FORT NELSON
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 1999-09-12
- Reference:
- IOE01/02024/01
- Rights:
- © Mr David Easton. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1350616
- Date first listed:
- 22-Dec-1971
- List Entry Name:
- Fort Nelson
- Statutory Address 1:
- FORT NELSON
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.
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.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- FORT NELSON
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Hampshire
- District:
- Winchester (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Boarhunt
- National Grid Reference:
- SU 60696 07203
Details
SU 60 NW BOARHUNT 13/10 Fort Nelson 22.12.71 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. 1862-72. Brick walls of English bond, the outer face of the defensive walls being 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, and a pair of Haxo casemates at the south end of the perimeter. Below the central parade ground there are brick-arched passageways, ammunition stores, staircases to the several parts, and behind the caponiers sunken embrasures for mortars. The rear (south) of the fort has a set of barracks surrounding a redan (triangular court), and the south face is a high brick wall, originally protected by the continuous ditch (now filled). There is an entrance on each side of the central pointed projection, once approached by a drawbridge, having the only architectural feature, comprising a bold Norman doorway of stone with recessed orders. The fort contains many interesting details of fortification design, and remains virtually unaltered, except for the making of new vehicular entrances, when the fort became used as a store. The forts were never attacked, and Nelson became neglected, but is being restored as a museum. Ancient monument.
Listing NGR: SP6397414673
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 146336
- 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.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 11-Jun-2026 at 10:17:34.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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