St Helens Fort

St Helens Fort is a sea fort in the Solent near the Isle of Wight. It belongs to the Palmerston Forts built to protect Portsmouth from naval attack. The fort stands on a small island close to St Helens beach. It was designed by Captain E. H. Stewart under Colonel W. F. D. Jervois. Construction started in 1865 and took thirteen years to finish. The fort was meant to hold heavier guns but subsidence forced changes to the plans. Two 10-inch guns faced the land and one 12.5-inch gun faced the sea. The fort was part of a wider plan after fears of a French invasion under Louis Napoleon III. The Jeune École doctrine emphasised small craft attacks on ports rather than large fleets. The threat lessened after France’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. During both world wars the fort served as a searchlight and anti-aircraft platform. Later it became a navigational aid and lighthouse for passing ships. At low tide a causeway appears from the sea, linking the fort to St Helens beach. The original materials were carried along this route from a quarry near St Helen’s Old Church. A yearly walk follows this path when the tide is lowest. After the walk people gather on the beach for a barbecue. The fort itself remains private and is not open to visitors. It has its own well but no access to local services.