Sandown Fort

Sandown Fort stands on the Isle of Wight in the middle of Sandown Bay. Built in the 19th century, it is one of the Palmerston Forts constructed to defend against a feared French invasion. The fort replaced an earlier structure called Sandown Diamond Fort, which was judged too weak. Work began in April 1861 and finished by September 1864. Because it was made largely of granite, later records often call it Granite Fort.

The fort played a notable part in the Second World War. During the D-Day landings it housed sixteen pumps for the PLUTO operation, which supplied fuel to Allied forces. Each pump delivered 36,000 imperial gallons of fuel every day at high pressure. After the war the site became home to the Isle of Wight Zoo, now known as the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary.

Visitors find a sturdy granite fort facing the sea. Inside are rooms and passages built for heavy guns and storage. The surrounding Sandown Bay offers wide views along the coast. Paths lead around the ramparts and through the former zoo grounds. The fort’s thick walls and seaward batteries remain clearly visible.