South Hook fort was built between 1859 and 1865 as a result of the proposals of the 1858 Comittee, consisting of a 2 storey horseshoe shaped barracks with four foot thick walls behind a 20 gun battery facing out to sea.
It was used in 1886 during the "Milford haven experiment" as part of a study into defending a commercial port. In 1890, the western 15 gun battery was demolished to make way for batteries for two 10" BL and three 10" RML guns, however, only one 10" BL gun was ever mounted. This was again replaced between 1900 and 1904 by batteries for three 6" BLs and a 9.2" BL. The western end of the covered way was adapted to take three 6 pounder QFs, again these were never mounted, but adapted once more to take two 12 pounder QFs instead. These were withdrawn in July 1935 and sent to the east blockhouse to form a training battery.
The fort was sold in 1936, however, it was requisitioned at the beginning of the second world war and was called HMS Skirmisher operated by WRENs controlling all Naval movements in the haven. In the late 1950s, ESSO bought the site and built an oil refinery which has since been demolished.
The site was then re-purchased and fitted with an LNG receiving terminal, allowing the import and regasification of LNG from Qatar. The current owners have built a new fence encompassing the Fort (but not the gun emplacements) consisting of a 7ft chain link fence topped with barbed wire. At the main receiving terminal (jetty), there are also electric fences (think jurassic park) that look very nasty indeed.
Present on this adventure was Myself, Hood_Mad, Dangerous Dave and his two "groupies" :cool2: (I'm gonna get my arse kicked for that) :lol:
Outline of the barracks and the gun emplacements.
Sattelite photo with the new fence added.
One of the many hidden entrances.
Double skinned rooms are the norm.
Weirdly shaped doorway.
That was also high off the ground.
Lots of the doors were securely locked down.
Much overgrown-ness.
View down to one 10" emplacement.
Hood_mad.
Exit fail. :lol:
10" mounting spindle.
Another emplacement.
A crack like that takes some force.
More emplacements.
Mounting bolts.
Flooded ammo storage.
Quality table.
Shell lift.
Up to the surface.
Cartridge lift.
Original light fittings.
Washing unit.
Front drops down to reveal the sink.
The electric fence (do not touch).
We managed to sidle inside without being spotted and made our way up to the fort itself.
The fort proper.
Front door, complete with drawbridge chains.
But unfortunately, it was locked up tighter than the proverbial ducks behind. All the windows were anti-climbed and the doors were welded / padlocked shut, so no access was forthcoming. From looking through the various gaps into the fantastic courtyard, we could tell that this place needs to be done. So we'll keep on checking and hopefully one day get in.
Cheers for looking. :beer:
J.
It was used in 1886 during the "Milford haven experiment" as part of a study into defending a commercial port. In 1890, the western 15 gun battery was demolished to make way for batteries for two 10" BL and three 10" RML guns, however, only one 10" BL gun was ever mounted. This was again replaced between 1900 and 1904 by batteries for three 6" BLs and a 9.2" BL. The western end of the covered way was adapted to take three 6 pounder QFs, again these were never mounted, but adapted once more to take two 12 pounder QFs instead. These were withdrawn in July 1935 and sent to the east blockhouse to form a training battery.
The fort was sold in 1936, however, it was requisitioned at the beginning of the second world war and was called HMS Skirmisher operated by WRENs controlling all Naval movements in the haven. In the late 1950s, ESSO bought the site and built an oil refinery which has since been demolished.
The site was then re-purchased and fitted with an LNG receiving terminal, allowing the import and regasification of LNG from Qatar. The current owners have built a new fence encompassing the Fort (but not the gun emplacements) consisting of a 7ft chain link fence topped with barbed wire. At the main receiving terminal (jetty), there are also electric fences (think jurassic park) that look very nasty indeed.
Present on this adventure was Myself, Hood_Mad, Dangerous Dave and his two "groupies" :cool2: (I'm gonna get my arse kicked for that) :lol:
Outline of the barracks and the gun emplacements.
Sattelite photo with the new fence added.
One of the many hidden entrances.
Double skinned rooms are the norm.
Weirdly shaped doorway.
That was also high off the ground.
Lots of the doors were securely locked down.
Much overgrown-ness.
View down to one 10" emplacement.
Hood_mad.
Exit fail. :lol:
10" mounting spindle.
Another emplacement.
A crack like that takes some force.
More emplacements.
Mounting bolts.
Flooded ammo storage.
Quality table.
Shell lift.
Up to the surface.
Cartridge lift.
Original light fittings.
Washing unit.
Front drops down to reveal the sink.
The electric fence (do not touch).
We managed to sidle inside without being spotted and made our way up to the fort itself.
The fort proper.
Front door, complete with drawbridge chains.
But unfortunately, it was locked up tighter than the proverbial ducks behind. All the windows were anti-climbed and the doors were welded / padlocked shut, so no access was forthcoming. From looking through the various gaps into the fantastic courtyard, we could tell that this place needs to be done. So we'll keep on checking and hopefully one day get in.
Cheers for looking. :beer:
J.
olice2:
