Bembridge Fort

Bembridge Fort, Culver Down

The fort on Bembridge Down was built in 1862 as part of the Palmerston defences of Portsmouth. Built on the high point of the down it commanded views from the Solent around to Sandown Bay and the English Channel.

In the late 19th century (1880 to 1900) it was the base for experimental anti-submarine devices.

Although it was never used as a defensive position, it was used during WW2 as a Command Post for Anti-Aircraft Regiments and HQ for the local Home Guard.

The fort fell in to abandonment from 1945 to 1965 and was heavily vandalised, finally the IW County Council purchased the building in 1965 and subsequently sold it on to the National Trust who own it today (2018), the interior was converted and modified and is now (2018) rented out as offices and stores to the local company Micronair.

At the entrance to the fort stands a sign:

THE NATIONAL TRUST BEMBRIDGE FORT BEMBRIDGE FORT WAS A PART OF THE EXTENSIVE DEFENCE SYSTEM BUILT BY THE PALMERSTON ADMINISTRATION AGAINST POSSIBLE INVASION BY FRENCH FORCES OF NAPOLEON III. CONSTRUCTED 1862-1867, AT A COST OF £48,925 AS THE MAIN STRONGHOLD FOR THE SOUTH COAST OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, WITH AN ESTABLISHMENT OF THREE OFFICERS AND ONE HUNDRED OTHER RANKS AND ORDNANCE OF TWO 4” BREECH-LOADING AND SIX MUZZLE-LOADING GUNS MOUNTED ON PARAPET SLIDES. 1880-1900 EXPERIMENTAL BASE FOR ANTI-SUBMARINE DEVICES. 1900-1914 TRAINING CAMP AND GARRISON DUTIES. 1914-1920 HEAVY ARTILLERY COASTAL DEFENCE. 1920-1939 TERRITORIAL ARMY OBSERVATION POST FOR ARTILLERY BASED AT YAVERLAND BATTERY. 1939-1945 COMMAND POST FOR ANTI-AIRCRAFT REGIMENTS AND H.Q. LOCAL HOME GUARD. 1948 THE WAR DEPARTMENT RELINQUISHED CONTROL. 1965 PURCHASED BY I.W. COUNTY COUNCIL SCHEDULED AS AN ANCIENT MONUMENT. 1967 ACQUIRED THROUGH ENTERPRISE NEPTUNE TOGETHER WITH SURROUNDING DOWNLAND FOR THE NATIONAL TRUST 1940-1945 THIS PLAQUE IS IN HONOUR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ROYAL ARTILLERY, ROYAL NAVY, WOMEN'S ROYAL NAVAL SERVICE, THE ROYAL AIR FORCE AND WOMEN'S AUXILIARY AIR FORCE WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY AT BEMBRIDGE FORT AND CULVER DURING WORLD WAR TWO.