- ‘Palmerston’s Follies’, which sit in the Solent off Portsmouth, are now used as luxury hotels and a museum
- They were acquired 11 years ago by Mike Clare, founder of Dreams bed company, and transformed
- Used during World War Two to protect Britain from invasion, they were decommissioned by the MoD in 1956
- Horse Sand Fort is up for auction at £750k and No Man’s Fort and Spitbank Fort are for sale for £8m combined
Three Victorian forts built to protect Britain from French invasion in the 1800s have plunged in value by £2.25million after failing to sell.
Horse Sand Fort, No Man’s Fort and Spitbank Fort, collectively known as ‘Palmerston’s Follies’, were commissioned by Britain’s oldest first-time Prime Minister Lord Palmerston amid concerns about the strengths of Napoleon III and his naval forces.
They were built in the middle of the Solent near Portsmouth in the 1860s and later used to protect Britain from Nazi invasion, with Navy officials stringing anti-submarine defences between them.
No longer of use after the end of the conflict they were decommissioned by the Ministry of Defence in 1956.
They were acquired 11 years ago by the founder of the Dreams bed company Mike Clare and have since been transformed into hotels and a museum.
Hotels Spitbank and No Man’s Fort and the museum at Horse Sand Fort were put up for sale for a combined price of £11million in May 2018, but with no buyers coming forward, they have been reduced to £8.75million.
Horse Sand Fort
After the coastal artillery was abolished by the Ministry of Defence in 1956, all three Solent forts were left empty and unused.
They were put up for sale just seven years later in 1963, but Spitbank wasn’t invested in until the 1980s. It was originally bought by a couple who wanted to restore its derelict, damp stone and transform it into a museum.
Today it tells the long and fascinating history of the site, from the 1800s to the present day.
Visitors can explore the 100 chambers and living quarters, original gun carriages and armour plated walls before stepping out for stunning views of the surrounding Solent.
Victorian forts in the Solent, built to protect Britain from a French invasion have plunged in value by £2.25million after failing to sell. Horse Sand Fort is one of the three
Horse Sand Fort is one of the three forts in the Solent. It is currently used as a museum to record the history of the follies
Horse Sand Fort retains the 100 chambers and living quarters, original gun carriages and armour plated walls
Clearing the site, which had been left derelict for decades, was a painstaking task, as experts had to be careful not to remove any key historical elements.
The history of the three Solent Forts dates back to Victorian Britain, when Prime Minister Lord Henry Palmerston grew wary of Napolean III and his impressive naval fleet.
He commissioned three sea-based defences off the coast of Portsmouth to survey the area and protect Britain from any potential French attack.
With large stone blocks used for the foundations below 15ft armour-plated granite walls, the structures are an impressive example of Victorian engineering.
Known as ‘Palmerston’s Follies’ after the Prime Minister Lord Palmerston who commissioned them, the forts were built out at sea in the 1860s. Pictured: Horse Sand Fort
Horse Sand Fort is being sold by auction through Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers with bids starting at £750,000
The forts were first put up for sale for a combined £11m in May 2018. Pictured: Horse Sand Fort
The forts have been reduced in price to £8.75million after no buyer came forward last year. Pictured: Horse Sand Fort
They took 15 years to build and were finally unveiled in the 1870s, but unfortunately, by the time they were finally ready, the threat of French invasion had dwindled and they became known as simply ‘Palmerston’s follies’.
The forts were acquired 11 years ago by businessman Mike Clare (pictured), founder of the Dreams bed company
When war was declared in 1914, naval guns had already been installed on the Isle of Wight, which were better placed to engage enemy ships.
But the forts were equipped with their own smaller guns, measuring 4.7 to 6 inches, which allowed them to target smaller boats that managed to squeeze through the heavier defences.
Despite this, the Solent forts saw little action during the First World War, as the Channel’s other defences were so strong.
It wasn’t until the Second World War that the forts finally got their moment to shine. Submarines were a major threat, so Navy officials decided to rig defences between each one.
Being on the front line in the fight against enemy subs, they were hit several times, from the sea and the air.
When the war was over, Horse Sand Fort, No Man’s Fort and Spitbank Fort were all decommissioned and fell out of use.
Horse Sand Fort is up for auction with bids starting at £750,000.
Horse Sand Fort is being sold through Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers. Rob Marchant, auctioneer at Clive Emson, said: ‘We sell some incredible land and properties at our actions but these forts must be among the most historically interesting’
Commissioned by Prime Minister Lord Palmerston during his tenure between 1859 and 1865, the forts were built as a line of defence against enemy attacks on the Solent and Portsmouth. Pictured: Horse Sand Fort
Mr Marchant added: ‘There are endless possibilities for these forts and buyers do let their imaginations run wild’. Pictured: Horse Sand Fort
The auctioneer said of the forts: ‘They were built by the Victorians to last and they certainly have – and are a reminder of the threats the country was facing more than 150 years ago’. Pictured: Horse Sand Fort
No Man’s Fort
Collectively known as Solent Forts after they were bought by Dreams owner Mike Clare 11 years ago, No Man’s and Spitbank have been converted into exclusive hotels.
No Man’s Fort boasts four stars and can accommodate up to 200 people at a time. Alternatively guests can hire out the entire venue for weddings, corporate events or other special occasions.
There are 23 en-suite guest bedrooms, five bars, each with a different theme, a restaurant and a spa. In keeping with its military history there is also a laser battle play area.
One of its star features are its rooftop hot tubs, with stunning views out onto the Solent. Spread across four floors, the 99,000 square-foot hotel also comes with a lighthouse and helipad for guests to arrive in style.
It is up for sale along with Spitbank for a combined price of £8million.
No Man’s Fort has been painstakingly redeveloped into an exclusive hotel over the years
No Man’s Fort has been transformed to create a 4-star island hotel with a maximum capacity of 200
Guests can hire No Man’s Fort exclusively for weddings, corporate events and celebrations
No Man’s Fort has 23 ensuite guest bedrooms, staff quarters, a restaurant, five themed bars, laser battle play area and a spa
source:dailymail