Spitbank Fort

The four armour-plated forts were designed by Captain E. H. Stewart overseen by Assistant Inspector General of Fortifications, Colonel W. F. D. Jervois. Construction started in 1867, and was completed in 1878, at a cost of £167,300 STG.{{cite web |url=http://royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_solentforts.htm |title=History of the Solent Forts |publisher=Royal Naval Museum |access-date=12 July 2018 |archive-date=12 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712162852/http://www.menshealth-questions.net/royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_solentforts.htm |url-status=live}}

Spitbank is smaller than the two main Solent forts, Horse Sand Fort and No Man's Land Fort. Its main purpose was as a further line of defence for ships that made it past the two main forts. It is {{convert|49.4|m|ft}} in diameter across at its base, with one floor and a basement and armour plating only on the seaward side. It was originally planned to have been armed with nine 10" 18-ton rifled muzzle loader (RML) guns on the seaward side, and six 7" seven-ton RML guns on the landward side. However, by the time of completion the plan had changed so that the seaward side received nine 12.5-inch muzzle-loading (RML) guns. From 1884 more modern 12-inch breechloading guns were installed and these were in service until after World War I.Hogg, I.V. and Thurston, L.F. (1972). British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914-1918, pages 188-189. Ian Allan, London. {{ISBN|978-0-7110-0381-1}}

In 1898 the role of the fort was changed to defend against light craft and the roof was fitted out with two 4.7" guns and searchlights. In the early 1900s all but three original large guns were removed. Minor upgrades to the smaller guns and searchlights continued through the years. A 2020 report stated that during the Second World War, "the forts were used to defend the Portsmouth dockyards. Life on site was grim; those serving were deliberately chosen for their inability to swim, to avoid any attempt to escape".{{Cite web |url=https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/live-in-your-choice-of-victorian-sea-forts-from-a-boutique-delight-with-helipad-to-a-crumbling-wreck-thats-a-blank-canvas-216940 |title = Live in your choice of Victorian sea forts, from a boutique delight with helipad to a crumbling wreck that's a blank canvas |website=www.countrylife.co.uk |date = 11 July 2020}}

The fort remained unused after the abolition of coastal artillery in 1956.{{Cite web |url=https://solentforts.com/about/solent-fort-history/|title = Napoleonic History of Spitbank | No Mans | Horse Sand Forts |website=solentforts.com}} The fort was declared surplus to requirements in 1962, and put up for sale the following year unsuccessfully. The fort was declared a Scheduled Monument in 1967.{{NHLE|num=1018587 |desc=Spitbank Fort |access-date=17 January 2015}} The Ministry of Defence sold the fort to a private buyer in 1982, amid other defence spending cuts in the early 1980s.

Following the purchase of the fort, it underwent restoration and was opened to the public as a museum.{{cite web |title=History of the Solent Forts

|url=http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_solentforts.html |publisher=Royal Naval Museum Library |access-date=26 December 2020}}

Beginning June 4, 2002 the fort was used as a location for Banged Up With Beadle. For six weeks British TV personality Jeremy Beadle was locked in its dungeons. Cameras followed him as he coped with survival, plus learning skills with a different member of the public each week. These skills were put to the test as a live insert each Saturday evening into Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway. It was the venue for the Coalition Festival in the summer of 2009, and other psytrance[http://www.tortuga.com/portal/node/2567 The Coalition Festival], www.tortuga.com 25 July 2009. and hard dance[http://www.harderfaster.net/?sid=a83546f0cd09b4c5cf506cc701876429§ion=whatson&action=showevent&eventid=38c68ff74f0d40385dcdf0e8df539ec0 Overload], www.harderfaster.net parties.

In 2009 it was put on sale for {{Currency|800000|GBP}}[http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Sea_fort_put_on_the_market_for_%A3800,000&in_article_id=750628&in_page_id=34 "Sea fort put on the market for £800,000"], www.metro.co.uk, 12 October 2009, accessed 12 October 2009. but was sold before auction, reportedly for more than £1m.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6494595/Historic-Spitbank-Fort-sells-for-1m.html Historic Spitbank Fort sells for £1m], Daily Telegraph, 4 November 2009 The fort was remodelled, with works reportedly costing around £2.6 million, and opened in 2012 as a luxury spa hotel and retreat with nine bedroom suites.{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/a981165c-8efa-11e1-ab32-00144feab49a.html#axzz1tMZh6YA6 |title=Naval gazing: A Victorian fort on the high seas has been reopened as Britain's most unusual luxury hotel |date=April 28, 2012 |publisher=Ft.com |author=Tom Robbins}}[https://www.thecaterer.com/news/hotel/clarenco-to-operate-a-trio-of-forts-in-the-solent Clarenco to operate a trio of forts in the Solent] www.thecaterer.com

A 2018 report however, stated that Spitbank, "largely undamaged, has been protected from inappropriate development by its status ... as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and the designers have been scrupulously careful to preserve ... all the fitments...". At the time, the "9-suite Spitbank ... [was] spectacularly open for business, whether overnight stays, corporate events or weddings". Events for up to 60 guests could be accommodated, "during the day, but most would have to leave on the last boat".[https://britishtraveljournal.com/solent-forts/ Solent Forts an amazing visit off the Hampshire coast] britishtraveljournal.com

In 2020, use of the hotel was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. The hotel was unable to reopen as other English hotels did in July, "due to their unique requirements in both transportation and sanitisation requirements".{{Cite web |url=https://solentforts.com/faqs/ |title = Solent Forts | Frequently Asked Questions |website=solentforts.com }} All three Clarenco Forts were listed for sale in July. Spitbank Fort was described as a "33,000 sq ft boutique retreat on three floors". On September 14, 2020,{{Cite web |url = https://www.premiermarinas.com/Marina-News-Events/Mariner-Notices/2020/September/Queens-Harbour-Master-Notice-to-Mariners-No-48-of-2020 | title= Queens Harbour Master Notice to Mariners No 48 of 2020 |website=www.premiermarinas.com | date= 10 September 2020|access-date= 2 October 2020}} Pendulum recorded a concert at Spitbank Fort to promote their new single Driver/Nothing for Free that was streamed live on YouTube on October 2, 2020.{{Cite web |url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/business/pendulum-dj-set-secretly-recorded-spitbank-fort-solent-exclusive-new-music-revealed-2982663 |title=Pendulum DJ set secretly recorded on Spitbank Fort in the Solent as exclusive new music is revealed |website=www.portsmouth.co.uk |date=25 September 2020 |access-date=2 October 2020}} In June 2024 the fort sold at auction to an unknown buyer for £1,120,000.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clmmj1g3n5yo |title=Historical sea forts each sell for more than £1m |website=BBC News |date=19 June 2024 |access-date=19 June 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Spitbank Fort}}

• [http://www.victorianforts.co.uk/pdf/datasheets/spitbank.pdf Victorian Forts detailed description]
• [http://www.victorianforts.co.uk/map/pomap.htm Map of Portsmouth Defences]

{{Palmerston Forts on the Isle of Wight}}

Category:Sea forts

Category:Sea Forts in the Solent

Category:Palmerston Forts

Category:Coastal artillery

Category:Scheduled monuments in Hampshire

Category:Military installations established in 1878