"A really positive step": Race continues to save historic Fort Widley in Portsmouth as bridges restored
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Passionate volunteers and conservationists are racing to save a historic fortification from falling into disrepair.
Work continues to preserve Fort Widley on Portsdown Hill for future generations. It’s one of many military locations in the Portsmouth area which is listed on English Heritage’s At Risk register.
A grant of £270,957 from Historic England has allowed for the conservation of the six-foot bridges that lead into the former barrack block. This has greatly increased accessibility for the community.
Darren Bridgman, chief executive of the Peter Ashley Activity Centres Trust - which manages the site - said: “The conservation work at Fort Widley marks a really positive step in safeguarding one of Portsmouth’s most unique heritage landmarks. The repairs to the bridges have not only protected an important part of the fort’s historic fabric but also improved access for the community, opening up new opportunities for education, community use and inclusion.
“We are extremely grateful to Historic England and Portsmouth City Council for their support and proud to play a part in ensuring the fort continues to inspire future generations.”
History of Fort Widley
Fort Widley is a Victorian military fort built between 1861 and 1870, overlooking Portsmouth. It is one of the many Palmerston forts, which were built to defend the city from a prospective French land invasion.
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They were never used in battle, and some people later called them “Palmerston’s Follies” because the threat never came. During both World Wars, they were used for storage, troop movement, and later as a bomb disposal and command centre.
Portsmouth City Council took over Fort Widley in the 1960s. The Peter Ashley Activity Centres Trust is undertaking a full repairing lease from the local authority. The site is home to the Fort Widley Equestrian Centre, offering community room and space for hire. It’s also a hub for heritage tours.
The scheduled monument still remains on the Heritage At Risk register. Sites are placed their if it’s possible they could fall into ruin and not be repaired.