Fort Cumberland is at the SW corner of Langstone Harbour. It was built to control the entrance to the harbour and to improve the defences of Portsmouth dockyard.
The first fort was built in 1716 on Eastney Point, to defend access to Langstone Harbour. It was a simple earthwork battery made of high, long mounds of earth. When the Napoleonic War with France was at its height in the early 1800s, a second and much larger Fort Cumberland was built. It was constructed mainly by French prisoners of war living on redundant vessels or ‘prison hulks’ floating in Langstone Harbour.
This second fort was pentagonal in shape, built mainly of brick and Portland limestone, with projecting defensive earthworks. It was completed in 1812, with the guardhouse and storehouse being retained from the earlier fort.
Did You Know?
The projecting, triangular shapes of the fort walls gave the whole structure a star-like appearance, hence their name ‘star forts’. This fort type was originally developed in the 15th century in Italy.
This fort design helped counter the power of gunpowder artillery, as previous designs with simple high, straight walls were vulnerable to cannon fire. These ‘bastion’ forts featured angular, projecting walls that allowed defenders to fire on attackers from overlapping positions. The walls also featured vaulted casemates, fortified chambers within the fort’s curtain wall, to keep the gunpowder and men safe from attack.
In 1858, Fort Cumberland was transferred from the War Department to the Board of Admiralty. In 1859, it also became the temporary headquarters of the Royal Marine Artillery.
By the 20th Century the fort was also home to the Royal Marine artillery howitzer and anti-aircraft brigade. Its moat also served as a site to develop and test amphibious vehicles!
In 1964 the fort became a scheduled Ancient Monument and, after the Royal Marines left in 1975, it was designated for building conservation. It is now home to the Historic England Centre for Archaeology.
Did You Know?
Unfortunately, the fort is only open to the public on special occasions. These include Festival of British Archaeology days or Heritage Open Days.
- Details of when Fort Cumberland is open to the public – click here
- Details of Fort Cumberland at Historic England – click here