Fort Hubberstone

Fort Hubberstone stands on the west side of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire. It is a large D-shaped battery built between 1860 and 1863 as part of the inner line of defence for the Haven. The fort has eleven guns in casemates, eight in an open battery above, and nine more in an open flank battery. A deep ditch protects its landward side while a counter-scarp gallery faces the sea. The barracks behind the battery could house 250 men, though recruitment was often difficult due to the fort’s isolated location. The fort played a role in military exercises, including live firing and night target illumination trials in 1894. In 1875, a violent incident occurred when Lieutenant Walter was killed by Doctor Alder during a drunken fight. After World War I, the fort was abandoned under the Haldane Reforms, and later used as an air raid shelter and American military camp in World War II. Attempts to convert it into housing or a residential camp for veterans proved unsuccessful. The site remains a ‘living ruin’, purchased in 2020 by Guy Anderson with plans to open it to the public. It was named one of Britain’s most endangered archaeological sites in 2011, highlighting the need for sustainable use. In 2024, ownership passed to Alyson Rawes and Kelsey Trattner, who continue efforts to preserve the fort’s historic structures. The site’s military past and dramatic coastal setting make it a place of quiet intrigue.