Shoreham Fort

Introduction

History

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Fort Design

Shoreham Garrison

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Restoration

Location

Littlehampton

Newhaven

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History

Of the many small forts and gun batteries built along the coast of Southern England during the past few centuries only two survive in anything like there original form, Littlehampton fort, completed in September 1854 (now largely covered by the sand dunes) and Shoreham fort, also know as Kingston Redoubt, completed in June 1857, both of which are in West Sussex.  

Both these forts are especially important examples as they were built as experimental fortification, using what is known as a Carnot Wall. These were built directly after the introduction of the 'rifled' gun barrels on the continent, rifled barrels were an invention of the mid-nineteenth century with the aim and succession of increasing the range of heavy guns, they are also a form of fort from the nineteenth century not exhibited in the near contemporary, but slightly later in the forts protecting Portsmouth Harbour, in Hampshire.

After several centuries of the harbour at Shoreham being classed as insignificant it increased in importance as that of the neighbouring Sussex ports declined. The defenceless state of Shoreham harbour was of small concern until well into the nineteenth century. In fact there were several reasons for this. The mouth of the river Adur was shifting eastwards due to it silting up. In 1810 the mouth was situated almost opposite Aldrington church, close to the Hove border. An army could be found in other places around Sussex , where it was said to be more convenient for an invasion army to disembark, being closer to the French coast and further away from the army detachments encamped, usually in Brighton . For many years Brighton was considered as being a premier military station. The social life in Shoreham town was attractive to the officers, so regular manoeuvres were held on the, nearby, south downs, usually annually.

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