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WWI
Invasion Defences Langstone
Redoubt |
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| Created 16-05-2002 Last update
03-05-2015 |
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At the northern end of Langstone Harbour
are the remains of a WWI anti-invasion redoubt. It was built on the site
of a proposed Palmerston fortification - Langstone Redoubt - and was well placed to
guard Langstone Harbour. It is very significant in that it is the only
surviving WWI defence left on Portsdown. This has got to be one of the most
inaccessible sites in the area; it is in a boggy overgrown 'copse', which itself can only be reached after
a miles walk. It took me four separate attempts to get to it.
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With
thanks to Peter Cobb |
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The
Redoubt is in an area of land (a nature reserve) which is sandwiched between the
South Coast Railway line the A27 trunk road. It can only be reached by
walking from the car park on Farlington Marshes.
Grid
Ref SU691054 |
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Google
Earth Aerial View
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Visit
this site - Portsdown Walk No3
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This fort was to have been sited on the
Farlington Marshes, facing east and covering the eastern approaches to
Portsmouth. It was to have been alongside the railway line and would
have been in an ideal position to prevent an enemy advance, in fact the
whole of the Portsdown line was in danger of being outflanked without it
- remarkably its construction was cancelled in 1867.
The land clearance rights were
purchased but the work was abandoned because of the rising costs of the
other works. The Committee of 1868 were told that a less elaborate
earthwork would be built at the time of expected attack.
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Extracted
from the Solent Papers No 3. Copyright
David Moore - Palmerston
Forts Society
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The
proposed plan of the Palmerston "Langston Redoubt". The
fort was to have a four sided outline, with positions for 18 guns
on the terreplein and a defensible barrack block at the south west
angle. The whole was to have been enclosed in what was almost
certainly a wet ditch - you would not be able to prevent water
from filling a ditch at this location. Copyright
David Moore - Palmerston
Forts Society |
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Below
are some photos of the remains of the WWI Redoubt; I am still trying to make
sense of them.
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North
eastern Farlington Marshes looking east. The copse in the background contains the Redoubt. To
the left is the railway line, to the right the A27(T)
road. |
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An
overall picture cannot be obtained because of the dense
undergrowth. The redoubt is now ruined with concrete
structures such as this scattered about. There are also
two earthworks which may be what is left of the Victorian
Redoubt. |
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Mature
trees, brambles, nettles grow all over the site. It is
only possible to view a part of it. |
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Part
of the above ground north access tunnel. This leads to a
defendable site between the earthworks. The southern part
of the site is inaccessible. |
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NEW - 03-05-2015 |
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As above showing the thickness of the entrance.
Chris Marsh - March 2015 |
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NEW - 16-04-2012 |
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"I have been involved in a youth volunteer project with
the Hampshire wildlife trust and as part of that I have
been clearing the site of the redoubt of scrub and trees.
My youth volunteers have done a great job. This is the end
closest to the railway line. The picture of the doorway
you have on your site is the end nearest the motorway".
Phil Summerscale
South East Youth Volunteering Officer
January 2011 |
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