Home / Contact / Sitemap Search:
« Previous page
   
     
Dorset's Coastal Defences
 
In this section:

Dorset's Coastal Defences
Portland Harbour Defences
The Verne
Breakwater Fort
Breakwater Fort Construction
The Nothe
Palmerston Follies
East Wear
Guns and Cannons
High Angle Battery
HA: first and second stage

 
 
 
Home / History / Portland and Weymouth / Dorset's Coastal Defences
 
Breakwater Fort
 
Source: Various (please see Site Credits)
Click any picture to enlarge
         
 
Alternative name
- Chequer Fort
         
The Breakwater Fort is situated at the seaward end of the outer of the two original arms of Portland Breakwaters. Building was started in 1868 whilst the breakwaters were under construction and completed in 1875 but no guns were placed in the fort until 1892. The fort has its own small harbour with ancillary barrack buildings giving the appearance of a small village.
         
The circular fort, designed by Captain E.H.Steward of the Royal Engineers was built on a 200 foot diameter ring of stone laid on the sea bed. The walls are made of 6 1/2 inch thick iron plates buckled on to two rings of metal box girders with gunrooms and ports for 14 heavy guns on the main floor which is 23 feet above sea level. The concrete roof was designed to support two iron turrets for two guns each, but these were not installed.  
         
Gun crew lived beside their guns

 

  

Below the gunfloor are a myriad of passages, shell and cartridge stores and engine rooms to provide power for the guns.

Accommodation for the guncrews was adjacent to their guns but later buildings outside the fort included Sergeant's Mess and a Canteen for the soldiers.

         

Only seven guns were installed in 1892, facing to seaward, and these were massive 12.5 inch Rifled Muzzle Loading Cannons. Today they can be seen lying in pieces on the rocks below the fort. These were replaced in 1907 by two modern 6 inch breech loading guns on the roofofthe fort and two 12 pounder quick firing guns adjacent on the breakwater.

The military abandoned the Fort in 1956. To-day it is empty and boarded up.

         
Fallen in by Fort landing
 
Bombs over Chequers Fort
 
One of the Fort's 6 inch guns
 
TOP
 
© Copyright 2003 · Cyberport Project Ltd · All Rights Reserved · Site design by CoDesign
About The Heritage Coast | Terms and Privacy | Feedback | Advertise | CoDesign