VISIT TO FORT HORSTED on THURSDAY 14th MARCH 2013
On a chilly day in March 14 members had an interesting tour of Fort Horsted. Although we had snow 2 days before, we weren't deterred.
We were taken round by Mr Paul Coutts-Smith who is Development Manager for Fort Horsted.
During the mid-1800s there was alarm in the U.K. generated by the territorial ambitions of Emperor Napoleon 111, and the growing power of Imperial Germany. A Royal commission was set up in 1859 to review defences, and report its findings to Parliament.
One of the recommendations was the construction of 5 forts, to provide defence to Chatham Dockyard, where the new iron clad warships were being constructed. The forts were Darland, Twydall, Luton, Horsted and Bridgewood. Work started on Fort Horsted, named after Horsa, a Saxon King, and the largest of the 5,in 1880,using convict labour force from the newly constructed Borstal prison and supervised by The Royal Engineers.
The central tunnel and casemates were the 1st to be constructed, using bricks laid on timber formers and covered in concrete to a depth of several metres. By 1889 the work on the fort had been completed and its role of providing a garrison, munitions store and water supply top up to Fort Luton and Bridgewood began.
Constructed in the shape of a 6 sided arrow head, with each flank protected by machine guns in the counterscarp galleries, the fort would have been home to a garrison of approx.400 men and women. Although never permanently armed a fort of this size would have been armed with;
Eight 8"Howitzers on recoilless carriages
Four 6.6" Howitzers
Twelve 20-pounder rifled breech-loading guns
Thirteen 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns
Twelve 32-pounder smooth-bore breech-loading guns.
Most of the guns were movable, and could be deployed anywhere around the fort. The style of warfare at the time was for high angle artillery shells to be fired at targets from long range.
Fort Horsted lies 3 miles away from Chatham Dockyard, the principle target. This was put to the test in 1907 when 2,500 officers and men attacked a smaller force of 1,000 defenders to take the Dockyard. This was a peaceful operation and no shots were exchanged.
For the next 60 years the fort remained in military hands with the Royal Artillery in occupation. By the early 60s the military no longer had any use for the fort and it was sold to a development company in 1963. By 1976 the fort was owned by a tyre co. and on July 7th a fire broke out which burned for weeks. In the 1990s the fort was derelict and deserted, a business plan was put to English Heritage, to clear the site and develop it into small business units.
We were the first History Society to be shown round the Fort and Mr Coutts-Smith would be pleased to hear from other Societies who would like to visit the site.
Fort Horsted, Primrose Close
Chatham, Kent
ME4 6HZ
T: 01634 823205 W: www.forthorsted.co.uk E: [email protected]
On a chilly day in March 14 members had an interesting tour of Fort Horsted. Although we had snow 2 days before, we weren't deterred.
We were taken round by Mr Paul Coutts-Smith who is Development Manager for Fort Horsted.
During the mid-1800s there was alarm in the U.K. generated by the territorial ambitions of Emperor Napoleon 111, and the growing power of Imperial Germany. A Royal commission was set up in 1859 to review defences, and report its findings to Parliament.
One of the recommendations was the construction of 5 forts, to provide defence to Chatham Dockyard, where the new iron clad warships were being constructed. The forts were Darland, Twydall, Luton, Horsted and Bridgewood. Work started on Fort Horsted, named after Horsa, a Saxon King, and the largest of the 5,in 1880,using convict labour force from the newly constructed Borstal prison and supervised by The Royal Engineers.
The central tunnel and casemates were the 1st to be constructed, using bricks laid on timber formers and covered in concrete to a depth of several metres. By 1889 the work on the fort had been completed and its role of providing a garrison, munitions store and water supply top up to Fort Luton and Bridgewood began.
Constructed in the shape of a 6 sided arrow head, with each flank protected by machine guns in the counterscarp galleries, the fort would have been home to a garrison of approx.400 men and women. Although never permanently armed a fort of this size would have been armed with;
Eight 8"Howitzers on recoilless carriages
Four 6.6" Howitzers
Twelve 20-pounder rifled breech-loading guns
Thirteen 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns
Twelve 32-pounder smooth-bore breech-loading guns.
Most of the guns were movable, and could be deployed anywhere around the fort. The style of warfare at the time was for high angle artillery shells to be fired at targets from long range.
Fort Horsted lies 3 miles away from Chatham Dockyard, the principle target. This was put to the test in 1907 when 2,500 officers and men attacked a smaller force of 1,000 defenders to take the Dockyard. This was a peaceful operation and no shots were exchanged.
For the next 60 years the fort remained in military hands with the Royal Artillery in occupation. By the early 60s the military no longer had any use for the fort and it was sold to a development company in 1963. By 1976 the fort was owned by a tyre co. and on July 7th a fire broke out which burned for weeks. In the 1990s the fort was derelict and deserted, a business plan was put to English Heritage, to clear the site and develop it into small business units.
We were the first History Society to be shown round the Fort and Mr Coutts-Smith would be pleased to hear from other Societies who would like to visit the site.
Fort Horsted, Primrose Close
Chatham, Kent
ME4 6HZ
T: 01634 823205 W: www.forthorsted.co.uk E: [email protected]