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.
Horse Sand Fort is one of a group of four so-called “Palmerston's Follies” - artificial island fortifications - in the Solent. It was sold by businessman Mike Clare, who has transformed two of the other forts into luxury hotels.
Estate agent Colliers said the unnamed UK buyer aimed to "develop the site for a leisure use". Previously the firm said Horse Sand Fort had planning permission for 22 luxury residential apartments. In a marketing brochure, it said the property boasted "100 original chambers and living quarters, plus original gun carriages and armour-plated walls".
Mr Clare, who founded the Dreams bed company, put all three of his forts up for sale in 2019. He has set a deadline of 26 November for offers for No Man's Land Fort after dropping the asking price from £4.25m to £3.6m, Colliers said. His third fort, Spitbank, has been marketed for £4m.
Construction work on the Solent forts began in 1865 under former prime minister Lord Palmerston. By the time they had all been completed in 1880,' the invasion threat had passed.
The hotels on No Man's Land and Spitbank Forts were officially closed to guests in 2020. Solent Forts' website said reopening would be deferred until there was no threat of further coronavirus restrictions.
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 ...
Redan 85 The new Palmerston Forts Society journal was distributed to paid-up members at this years AGM with the remainder being despatched via Royal Mail on Wednesday 23rd October.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 ...
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......