Golden Hill Fort was a defensible barracks built as part of the Palmerston defences by the 1859 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom to provide manpower to man the defences at the western end of the Isle of Wight, England. The Fort is a local landmark which is in a very prominent position overlooking much of the land looking south towards Afton Down. Whilst operational, the area was kept clear of vegetation to allow views out to the Solent. The name Golden Hill refers not to the spectacular golden display of gorse but to an historic landowner named Gauden. The garrison for the nearby Hatherwood Battery was held at the fort.
The building, which is a Grade 1 Listed Building, is now in private ownership and not open to the public. It was derelict and had not been used for many years, passing through numerous owners. Planning consent was granted in 2003 for conversion to residential use, with the listed building consent updated in 2007. Golden Hill Fort is currently being converted into 18 luxury houses by Golden Hill Homes Ltd. The developers are working closely with English Heritage, to restore the Fort to its former glory. The Fort had half a page of editorial coverage in the Sunday Telegraph on 12th of May 2008, detailing the project. [1]
The surrounding land is open to the public. It is managed as a country park by the Isle of Wight Council, and is an open grassland with bridleways, viewpoints and a small car park.
The soil types on which it stands are complex and support a wide range of plants, including the chalk loving yellow-wort and dwarf thistle, dyer’s greenweed, a feature of neutral soils and gorse which is associated with more acid soils. These attract a good range of butterflies. The habitats vary and there is a transition between open grassland, scrub and woodland.
"Golden Hill Fort" was also a memorable place used for large raves and organised parties starting from the early 1990s.
PUBLISHED HISTORY OF GOLDEN HILL FORT:
Pages 34 to 36 inclusive of The Needles Defences co-authored by Anthony Cantwell and Peter Sprack in 1986, give a brief history of Golden Hill Fort, with a line drawing, and plans of Golden Hill Fort when it was in use by the Military.
SOLENT PAPERS NUMBER TWO The Needles Defences 1525 - 1956 by Anthony Cantwell MA and Peter Sprack ISBN 1 870113 01 2 An educational publication of the Palmerston Forts Society, Fort Nelson, Fareham, Hants PO17 6AN
Copyright A R Cantwell and Peter Sprack 1986
Sources:
Royal Engineers’ Corps Library, Chatham
Letter books, Nos 63-79, Portsmouth Division
Public Record Office, Kew, Surrey
ZHC 1/2577 Report of the Royal Commissioners appointed to consider the defence of the United Kingdom, 1860
ZHC/3287 Report of the Committee appointed to enquire into the construction, condition and cost of the fortifications erected or in course of erection, under 30/31 Victorian and previous statutes, 1869
Plans:
Works 43/258-268,
WO78/2985
WO78/3740
WO78/2662
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