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Fort Nelson is one of the Palmerston forts
sited on Portsdown hill, overlooking Portsmouth harbour and was designed
to protect the port from capture from the north. Built between 1861-70
it incorporates many of features present in other forts of this period.
From the glacis a steep bank slopes down into a deep defensive ditch which
then presents a deep escarpment of brick-arch construction embeded with
flint for extra protection. The ditches are protected by 'caponiers', brick
and stone structures firing down the ditch with case shot and rifle fire.
On top of the ditch wall the earth rampart protects the terreplein which
mounts the main armament, while sited above each caponier are mortars which
would be used to destroy enemy batteries.
The fort is now the site of the Royal Armouries Museum
which has displays around the parade ground, the Barrack Blocks & Redan
and a new artillery hall.
Above: A section of ditch viewed from ontop
of a caponier. Below 32 pdr guns firing case shot and infantry firing through
rifle loopholes would have raked the ditch.
Below: The complex defences above the northern
caponier. Note the motrar pit in the rampart, the firing steps and the
rifle loopholes covering the area between the top of the escarp and the
rampart. |
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