Bembridge Fort
Bembridge Fort is a hexagonal Palmerston fort cut into the chalk of Bembridge Down, built in the 1860s as part of the island's defences against a feared French invasion. It acted as the command centre for the surrounding gun batteries, though the threat it guarded against never materialised. The atmospheric, half-restored interior is opened on guided tours and at special events, including performances staged in the old gunpowder magazine.
- Victorian Palmerston fort
- Guided tours of the interior
- High downland setting
Best for military-history fans who like their forts raw and atmospheric.
Things to see at Bembridge Fort
Tick these off when you visit — open the place in Manorhop to save your progress.
- Hexagonal Victorian fort earthworks
- Bembridge Down viewpoint
- Sunken gun emplacements
- Restored fortification stonework