The Palmerston Forts Society was formed in 1984 and is based at Fort Nelson, Fareham, which is now home to the Royal Armouries Museum of Artillery.
In the early 1980’s Fort Nelson was quietly crumbling away but was rescued by the intervention of Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council, together with a small number of dedicated volunteers, to preserve it for future generations. These local volunteers went on to become the core of the Society which now has an international membership.
PFS members are encouraged to share their research with a view to publishing it in the Society’s annual journal ‘The Redan’ which is distributed each October. Zoom meetings are held throughout the year with speakers on subjects that may range from Victorian fortifications and artillery to world-wide military history. One physical meeting each year is normally a visit to a local fort or gun battery not generally available to the public, and each year at least one visit is made to fortifications outside of the area. The Society’s Annual General Meeting is held at Fort Nelson each October.
The Palmerston Forts Society is a registered charity, for more information please use the following link to the Charities Commission web-site:
This will be held at Fort Nelson at 1400.read more ...
The 2025 edition of the PFS Journal has arrived from the printers. It will be distributed to members at this years AGM on the 25th October and to those members unable to attend it will be posted via Royal Mail the following week.read more ...
The Royal Armouries are asking people who have visited the fort to complete a small on-line survey to help them shape future plans for the fort as a visitor experience. read more ...
We are delighted to announce that, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has decided to add Lumps Fort (Southsea) and the site of the nearby practice battery to the National Heritage List for England as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. read more ...
The Palmerston Forts Society (PFS) aims to educate the public about Fort Nelson and Victorian fortifications, supporting their improvement for public benefit. To further this goal, PFS offers financial grants of up to £1,000 for projects focused on preserving and recording Victorian forts.read more ...
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 ...