St Helen's Fort, Isle of Wight

Another of 'Palmerston's Follies'. The construction of St Helen's Fort began in 1867. The fort was one of many along the south coast intended as deterrents to a possible attack by the French Navy. St Helen's proved its worth during the two world wars by acting as a strategically important anti-aircraft gun emplacement.

Location

Isle of Wight St Helens

Period

Victorian (1837 - 1901)

Tags

fort attack defence coast military world war one two gun aircraft victorian (1837 - 1901) ww2 ww1 wwi first