Building MPM580 - FORT SOUTHWICK, THAT PART IN PORTSMOUTH CIVIL PARISH

Fort Southwick formed part of a ring of forts known as 'Palmerston's follies' which were built c1860 to protect the town of Portsmouth, it's dockyard and Harbour, from a French invasion. Southwick was one of six forts positioned along the ridge of Portsdown Hill. Five of the Portsdown forts survive; Fareham, Nelson, Southwick, Widley and Purbrook. Additional forts, most of which survive, were located in Gosport and the Solent. A test pit on the firing step on the face of the north rampart excavated in 1997 revealed part of a land-drain, which would have been used to drain rainwater from the earthen ramparts. This would have been one of many such features performing the same function around the fort.