Membership of the Palmerston Forts Society is open to all enthusiasts of nineteenth century fortifications and artillery aged over 18 years, and membership will apply to a member’s spouse / partner (although the spouse / partner does not have voting rights unless they are a member themselves).
Benefits of membership include:
If you would like to join then download the membership application form or click on the "Buy Now" button to pay on-line using Paypal.
Membership subscription:
on-line - £21.00* With Gift Aid‡
Without Gift Aid‡
The membership year commences 1 October and ends on the 30 September. Those selecting digital membership only receive The Redan by downloading from the members' section of the web site. Payment is accepted by cash, cheque, bank transfer or Paypal. Cheques made payable to "The Palmerston Forts Society”. Please contact the Membership Secretary if wishing to pay by bank transfer, so that this payment choice can be arranged for you. All payments must be in British Pounds (£).
Please send your completed application form and cheque made payable to ‘The Palmerston Forts Society’ to the Membership Secretary of the Palmerston Forts Society at the address found on the application form.
Any questions? If so, do contact the Membership Secretary at: membership@palmerstonfortssociety.org.uk
* Please note that an additional fee is charged for on-line payment due to the fees charged by Paypal.
‡ I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. Please notify us if you: 1) want to cancel this declaration, 2) change your name or home address or 3) no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains. If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.
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.read more ...
The PFS Committee would like to take this festive time to wish the members of the Society a 'Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous 2021'. We all hope that 2021 will be a better year for all of us, with opportunities to meet again at Fort Nelson for evening meetings, PAV gun firing events and work parties. We have also missed this year's annual outing to the Chatham forts, so the committee will be working on a new ideas for the 2021 outing.read more ...
The PFS have registered with Amazon Smile. If you use Amazon why not use Amazon Smile instead, there is no difference to you as the customer, but for every £1 you spend, those nice folk at Amazon will give the PFS a ha'penny!read more ...
Plymouth City Council website has a detailed pre-application proposal for the conversion of Eggbuckland Keep. See main content for application details and a link to the council's website.read more ...
The 2020 issue of The Redan has been received from the printers, and a general mail out to members who have renewed will commence from the 26th October. A digitised version can be found in the members' area of the PFS website.
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.
Fort Nelson will be open from 11 August 2020. Once again, visitors will be able to enjoy the panoramic views from the fort’s ramparts, explore the main tunnel, get up close to collection highlights in the Voice of the Guns gallery and visit the newly refurbished Artillery Hall. Although the main cafe will not be open there will be a takeaway menu and plenty of picnic space. Social distancing and various other forms of safety control will be in place, and so the number of people on site can be managed it is necessary to book advance for the three timed daily sessions. Admission is free but on-site car parking incurs a small charge. For advance booking: https://bit.ly/338cVrN
The PFS Committee has regrettably cancelled the Annual Outing to the Chatham forts Horsted and Luton due to the current Covid-19 situation. It is not certain that the forts will be open to visitors on the 19th September but, even if they are, the hire of a coach from Fort Nelson is subject to too many social distancing restrictions that the trip would be commercially nonviable. This is a disappointing but necessary decision, and the first time in more than twenty years that there has not been an annual outing but, hopefully, next year will return to normal.
The PFS Committee has regrettably cancelled all PFS activities for the next three months due to the current Covid-19 situation. It is hoped that by June 2020 the situation will have improved enough so that normal services and activities can be resumed, and the membership will be kept informed accordingly. Royal Armouries has closed Fort Nelson to the general public from the 18th March until further notice.
The roller-coaster ride for Fort Gilkicker continues, as it's back on the market yet again.... read more ...
Drop Redoubt Open Weekend dates for 2020: 30th – 31st May and 5th – 6th September. For full details: https://doverwesternheights.org
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=eyItmfUO3WAread more ...
Fears over the future of Hurst Castle have been heightened after storm damage forced the historic building’s closure at the weekend. English Heritage, which owns the scheduled monument near Milford, has shut a number exhibition rooms for the foreseeable future after large cracks appeared in the walls and ceilings.read more ...
The new PFS membership year commenced on the 1st October, and thanks to all members who have renewed, but a reminder to those who have yet to renew that their subscription for the 2019-2020 year is now in overdue.
The Peter Ashley Activity Centre at Fort Widley will be open for a unique evening on Friday 4th October with a tour of the Secret Nuclear Bunker. The two hour guided tour begins at 6.30 pm and will include access to the Nuclear Civil Defence Bunker and a talk about the changes to civil defence since the 1950s. The cost is £15 per person and does include refreshments, including Pompey Pals Ale. To book call Lydia on 02392 321223 or email: lydia@peterashleyactivitycentres.co.ukread more ...
Fort Cumberland Heritage Open Days will be from Friday 13th September to Monday 16th September. Full details and tickets are available on the website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/fort-cumberland1read more ...