Fort Hubberstone, on the west side of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, is a Grade II* Listed Building[1] which belongs to a series of forts built as part of the inner line of defence of the Haven following the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom. Together with Popton Fort on the opposite shore, it provided an interlocking field of fire, and represented the last layer of defence before reaching the Royal Naval dockyard at Pembroke Dock. Construction began in 1860 and was completed in 1863 at a cost of £55,000.[2] It is a large battery, with eleven guns in casemates, eight in an open battery above, with another nine in an open flank battery, and a large barracks to the rear. It is a D-shaped structure, with a bomb-proof roof which protected the barracks and other buildings from mortar projectiles. On its landward side, it was protected by a deep ditch, and on the seaward side by a counter-scarp gallery. The associated casemate battery is located further down the headland and separated from the fort.[3]
The barracks had capacity for 250 men, sourced from the Royal Pembrokeshire Artillery and the 24th Regiment of Foot. Recruitment however was frequently constrained by the isolation of the fort, lacking the appeal of more urban stations. The fort was often required to fire live practice rounds, and in 1894 participated in experiments to illuminate targets with searchlights so they could be engaged at night. Notoriously, in 1875 Lieutenant Walter of the militia was murdered by a Doctor Alder in a drunken brawl.[2]
The fort was abandoned after World War I as a consequence of the Haldane Reforms. A 1919 proposal to convert the structure into social housing came to nothing.[2] World War II saw the fort once again in active use, when it was used as an air raid shelter and army camp for American military personnel.[4]
On a good site, the fort has fallen into disrepair. Under the ownership of Milford Haven Port Authority, there were various unsuccessful plans to restore the structure. The site is not currently open to the public, and has been the scene of non-fatal injuries to trespassers.[5][6] In 2011 it was named as the fifth most endangered archaeological site in the UK by British Archaeology,[7][8] which prompted a campaign to seek a long-term sustainable use of the site.[9][10] In 2019, plans were announced to convert the site into a military-based residential camp for former service men and women. These plans were subsequently dropped due to a media scandal involving Camp Valour.[11]
In September 2020, the site was purchased by Guy Anderson, a private investor and local councillor, who announced it would be open it to the public as a ‘living ruin’.[12]
In 2021 it featured on the BBC television programme Hidden Wales: Last Chance to Save.[1].
References
- ^ Fort Hubberston, Milford www.BritishListedBuildings.co.uk, accessed 01.06.11
- ^ a b c Genealogy World – Fort Hubberstone Mason, Graham, Retrieved 25 December 2013
- ^ Phillips, Benjamin A, Pembrokeshire's Forts and Military Airfields, Logaston Press, 2013. ISBN 9781906663735
- ^ Experience Pembrokeshire – Hubberstone Fort Archived 10 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine "Experience Pembrokeshire Website", accessed 14.11.09
- ^ Safety Plea After Fort Fall Drama Milford Mercury Article, 18 August 2005
- ^ Girl, 13, in 'serious' fall at Fort Hubberstone, Milford Haven BBC News article, 9 July 2017
- ^ Hubberstone Fort is one of Britain’s most endangered archaeological sites Article, www.WalesOnline.co.uk, 26 April 2011
- ^ 6 Threatened Sites British Archaeology Magazine Article, www.britarch.ac.uk, accessed 30 June 2011
- ^ Online Campaign To Save Hubberston Fort Gathers Pace Article, www.MilfordMercury.co.uk, 13 May 2011
- ^ 1,500 Join Battle To Save Hubberston Fort Article, www.MilfordMercury.co.uk, 30 June 2011
- ^ Converting Hubberston Fort into a support centre for former soldiers could cost £2million Western Telegraph article, 30 January 2019
- ^ Milford's Hubberston Fort purchased by local businessman Milford Mercury article, 29 September 2020
External links
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