Fort Victoria (Isle of Wight)

Fort Victoria
Sconce Point, Isle of Wight, England

Fort Victoria's Casemates. The brickwork in the foreground shows the foundations of the former barracks.
Fort Victoria
Coordinates 50°42′24″N 1°31′16″W / 50.706667°N 1.521111°W
Site information
Owner Isle of Wight Council
Open to
the public		 Yes. Home to museum and attractions.
Site history
Built 1855
In use 1855 - 1969
Materials Brick
Demolished 1969

Fort Victoria was a single tier battery with defensible barracks west of Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, England. It was built in the 1850s, later used as a submarine mining centre and training area for military purposes.

The larger barrack blocks were demolished in 1969, but the sea-facing casemates were not, and form the current standing structure, which is a Grade II Listed Building.[1]

Fort Victoria Country Park

The fort can now be visited in its role as a country park. The linear park follows the coastline, and has spectacular beaches and soft cliffs. The old military road to Fort Albert runs through the wooded upper cliff area. It is now a part of the Isle of Wight coastal path.

Fort Victoria is the Isle of Wight's largest and most popular country park, owned and managed by the Isle of Wight Council, it has several attractions in the old fort buildings including a marine aquarium, a planetarium, a café, the Underwater Archaeology Centre run by Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology, a model railway layout display; and the ranger base from where in the summer months, educational visits are operated by the countryside rangers. The Fort provides easy access to the beach, (although swimming is not advised in the fast-flowing channel). There are excellent views of the Solent, Hurst Castle and passing shipping.

References

  1. ↑ Historic England. "Fort Victoria (1209376)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.

External links