St Catherine's Fort

St Catherine's Fort is a Palmerston Fort located on St Catherine's Island, West Wales. It is a Grade II* Listed Building^[1]

Construction

The Palmerston Fort is constructed of Granite and Limestone. It was built in 1870 on the orders of The Royal commission by Mr George Thomas of Orielton Terrace Pembroke. The fort contained six casemates to hold RML 7-inch guns and three gun platforms to hold RML 9 inch 12 ton guns.

The fort is approached over a drawbridge that is protected by two flanking Caponiers

History

The fort, which is just offshore from Tenby Castle, was built on St Catherine's Island which was purchased from The Corporation of Tenby for £800 in 1866. In 1867 work began clearing the site and constructing the slopes and cranes for the mammoth task of lifting solid granite blocks onto the island. The work was completed in 1870 but the guns and shields were not installed until 1886.

In 1907 the fort was decommissioned and sold to the Windsor Richards Family who converted it into a private house. During World War II the fort was compulsory purchased, the house contents were auctioned by Harrods and an anti-aircraft battery was built in front of the fort.

After the war the fort was again decommissioned and sold into private hands.

In 1968 the fort was opened as a zoo, and in 1979 the zoo relocated to new premises leaving it empty.

Present day

St Catherine's Fort is empty however work is underway to restore the fort and open it to the public. In May 2015, it was announced that Pembrokeshre Coast National Park had approved an application to reopen the site to the public, due to the economic benefit that it would bring to the area. The site will contain a nature walk, boat landings, commercial and catering outlets, in addition to restoration of the fort.^[2]

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to St Catherine's Fort, Tenby.

• Official website
• Official Photographs
• Map sources for St Catherine's Fort

References

Pembrokeshire Principal settlements Cilgerran Fishguard Goodwick Haverfordwest Milford Haven Narberth Newport Neyland Pembroke Pembroke Dock St Davids Templeton Tenby Towns and villages Ambleston Amroth Angle Boncath Brawdy Burton Camrose Carew Castlemartin Clydau Clynderwen Cosheston Crymych Cwm Gwaun Dale Dinas Cross East Williamston Eglwyswrw Fishguard Freystrop Haverfordwest Hayscastle Herbrandston Hook Hundleton Jeffreyston Johnston Kilgetty/Begelly Lampeter Velfrey Lamphey Letterston Llanddewi Velfrey Llandissilio West Llangwm Llanrhian Llanstadwell Llawhaden Lydstep Haven Maenclochog Manorbier Manordeifi Marloes and St. Brides Martletwy Mathry Merlin's Bridge Milford Haven Mynachlog-ddu Narberth Nevern New Moat Neyland Nolton and Roch Pembroke Pembroke Dock Penally Porthgain Puncheston Rosemarket Rudbaxton Saundersfoot Scleddau Slebech Solva Spittal St Davids and the Cathedral Close St. Dogmaels St. Florence St. Ishmael's St Mary Out Liberty Stackpole Stepaside Strumble Head Tenby The Havens Tiers Cross Trecwn Trefasser Uzmaston and Boulston Walwyn's Castle Wisemans Bridge Wiston Wolfscastle Castles Carew Castle Cilgerran Castle Cresswell Castle Dale Castle Haverfordwest Castle Llawhaden Castle Manorbier Castle Narberth Castle Pembroke Castle Picton Castle Wiston Castle Islands and headlands Bishops and Clerks Caldey Island Cemaes Head Crow Rock Dinas Island Emsger Gateholm Grassholm Llechau-isaf Meini Duon Middleholm Ramsey Island St Catherine's Island Skokholm Skomer St Margaret's Island Strumble Head Trwynmynachdy Ynys Bery Ynys Cantwr Ynys Eilun Ynys Gwelltog Rivers Afon Cych River Gwaun Western Cleddau Eastern Cleddau River Cleddau Afon Nyfer Pembroke River Afon Teifi River Syfynwy Topics Parliamentary constituencies Places SSSIs Schools Country houses Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums