News

Weekend Visit to the Plymouth Forts

As part of our 40th Anniversary events programme we are holding a weekend visit this year, in place of our annual September day trip. This will be the weekend 7th & 8th September 2024.
16/03/2024Read full story ...


Visits to Fort Gilkicker and the Hilsea Lines

As part of our 40th Anniversary events programme we are holding two members visits this year. Traditionally the PFS has held an annual evening visit to a Portsmouth fortification, but this year we are holding two afternoon visits: Fort Gilkicker - Saturday 20th April 2024, Hilsea Lines - Saturday 13th July 2024.  
23/02/2024Read full story ...


Easy Fund Raising

Easyfundraising We have now registered with a new scheme called easyfundraising.   Over 7,000 brands will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to yourself.  
16/02/2024Read full story ...


40th Anniversary Photograph Competition

2024 will see the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Palmerston Forts Society. One activity to celebrate this event is to be a photographic competition.  This is intended to showcase the talent of our members and followers and capture the essence of British Victorian Fortifications across the globe. 
28/01/2024Read full story ...


40th Anniversary of the founding of the PFS

2024 marks the 40th year since the Palmerston Forts Society was formed. To commemorate this occasion a number of special events will be announced. Watch this space......
01/01/2024


R.I.P. David Moore

The PFS is saddened to announce the passing of a founding member and great friend of the PFS - David Moore - a person of vast Victorian fortifications knowledge. The delay in advising the membership is out of respect for David's family who did not want it to be publicised until after his funeral.
05/02/2023


Merry Christmas!

The PFS Committee would like to take this festive time to wish the members of the Society a 'Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous 2023'.
08/12/2022


The Palmerston Forts Society Annual General Meeting 15th October 2022

Twenty three PFS members and guests attended at Fort Nelson and six joined by Zoom - although we sadly lost them half-way through when the connection failed.  Business was dealt with smoothly and we went on to elect the committee.  We have a new Chairman and Vice-Chairman - Philip Russell and James Doherty respectively.  The rest of the committee were re-elected except for our previous Vice-Chairman, Geoff Hallett, who has stood down after many years of service to the committee in various roles.  After the meeting we had a very interesting talk by Rik Smith about Freshwater Redoubt. The minutes and presentations of the meeting will all be posted in the members' area of the website and Rik's talk will be available some time next year as a FSG/PFS/OS webinar
19/10/2022


The Redan No.83 is now being distibuted

The Redan No.83 is now being distributed to all members who have renewed their subscription. Those who attended the AGM at Fort Nelson on the 15th October were the first to receive the shiny new publication, but all other members will receive theirs either by post or by digital transfer. As a reminder Redan No.83 can also be found in the Members' Area of the PFS website.
18/10/2022


The Redan No.83

The 2022 issue of The Redan has been received from the printers and will be distributed to members attending the PFS AGM at Fort Nelson on the 15th October. A a general mail out to members who have renewed will follow. A digitised version will be available in the members' area of the PFS website in late October.
29/09/2022


Fort Gilkicker sold for £1.386M

The online auction on the Clive Emson site has just ended with Fort Gilkicker being sold for £1.386 million against a guide price of £1.5 million.  There were four bidders willing to pay at least £1.35 million. We also have just had a recent report that intruders to the site – which is hardly secure – have done more permanent damage to the barracks block. We can only hope that the new owner – whatever their intentions – gets this site secure and safe very soon.
28/07/2022


PORTSMOUTH AND GOSPORT HISTORY WEEK - 1st to 7th August

The PORTSMOUTH AND GOSPORT HISTORY WEEK, held during 1st to 7th August, includes a couple of talks that will be of interest to fortification enthusiasts.....
21/07/2022Read full story ...


Horse Sand Fort sold for £715,000

The BBC website has just announced the following.... 'A derelict sea fort built to deter a French invasion in the 19th Century has been sold for £715,000.
28/11/2021Read full story ...


2021 - 2022 PFS Membership Year

The 2021 - 2022 PFS Membership started on the 1st October, and thanks to all members who have renewed their subscription which will last until the 30th September 2022. A polite reminder to the few members who have yet to pay their subs; it's so easy by cheque, bank transfer or PayPal. Contact the Membership Secretary if you have any questions: membership@palmerstonfortssociety.org.uk
03/10/2021


PFS New Publication - 'The Portsmouth Artillery Volunteers 1797 - 1908'

The PFS has just launched a new publication - 'The Portsmouth Artillery Volunteers 1797-1908' .
22/05/2021Read full story ...


English Heritage Statement on Hurst Castle

EH have issued a statement on their web site concerning the collapse of part of the castle and the work currently being carried out.
08/05/2021Read full story ...


PFS Official Statement regarding Hurst Castle

At this morning's PFS Committee, the catastrophe that had struck the East Wing Battery of Hurst Castle was discussed. The committee felt it appropriate that an official public statement should be made.
06/03/2021Read full story ...


Hurst Castle Front Seaward-Facing Wall Collapse

Terrible news form Hurst Castle as the front seaward-facing wall collapses due to coastal erosion. A report from the BBC news website follows....
27/02/2021Read full story ...


Exciting news about Eastney Fort East

Earlier this week, a delegation from the Palmerston Forts Society met with the new owners of the site of the former Royal Marines Museum which includes the battery. The owners plan to develop the site into Portsmouth's first five star hotel. We were invited to discuss options for the future of the battery site.
11/12/2020Read full story ...


Palmerston Forts Society updates its Constitution.

An important part of the business at the Annual General Meeting on the 17th October was gaining members’ support for an update to our constitution, which included voting procedures, the management of meetings and the status of different types of membership.  The proposed amendments were voted on and approved. This revised constitution was then submitted to the Charities Commission who accepted the amendments and approved it.  The new constitution has been uploaded to the members’ area of the PFS website.
22/10/2020


A new animation of the 100-ton gun at Fort Rinella, Malta.

Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna (The Malta Heritage Trust) were involved in the creation of the animation and Mario Farrugia, who represents the trust, wrote an excellent article about the fort and gun for Redan 48 back in 1998. To see the animation click on the link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyItmfUO3WA
24/12/2019Read full story ...

News

Weekend Visit to the Plymouth Forts

As part of our 40th Anniversary events programme we are holding a weekend visit this year, in place of our annual September day trip. This will be the weekend 7th & 8th September 2024.
read more ...

Visits to Fort Gilkicker and the Hilsea Lines

As part of our 40th Anniversary events programme we are holding two members visits this year. Traditionally the PFS has held an annual evening visit to a Portsmouth fortification, but this year we are holding two afternoon visits: Fort Gilkicker - Saturday 20th April 2024, Hilsea Lines - Saturday 13th July 2024.  
read more ...

Easy Fund Raising

Easyfundraising We have now registered with a new scheme called easyfundraising.   Over 7,000 brands will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to yourself.  
read more ...

40th Anniversary Photograph Competition

2024 will see the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Palmerston Forts Society. One activity to celebrate this event is to be a photographic competition.  This is intended to showcase the talent of our members and followers and capture the essence of British Victorian Fortifications across the globe. 
read more ...

40th Anniversary of the founding of the PFS

2024 marks the 40th year since the Palmerston Forts Society was formed. To commemorate this occasion a number of special events will be announced. Watch this space......