Stack Rock Fort
Super sweet explore requires boat access, 20 minute trip on a rib at breakneck speeds
Original marttello fort in the centre. lots off cannons in the casemates however they have been decommisioned by cutting in half.
Commenced 18 July 1859 Completed 31 December 1871
Cost £96,840
Constructed on Stack Rocks 800yds from South Hook, and 1,500 yds from Chapel Bay
Type – Sea Fort
Guns 23
Barrack Accommodation - 5 Officers 175 men
ARMAMENT
1871 – 1895
16 X 10 inch RML
7 X 9 inch RML
1895 5 x 10 inch RML
7 x 9 inch RML
2 x 6pdr QF
1904 – 1907 3 x 10 inch RML
1902 4 x 12pdr QF
1917-19 2 x 12pdr QF
1929 Disarmed
Technical History
A work on Stack Rock went back to the initial proposals for the defence of the Haven made by Colonel Bryce in 1817. General Burgoyne reiterated the need for a work there and in the mid 1850s a three gun tower was built; it is not generally appreciated that this tower still remains, as it was enveloped by the casemated work that was built in the 1860s. The tower had a basement for stores and the magazine, at ground floor level was the main gun battery. Above it was the first floor with accommodation for a garrison of an officer and 30 men; above the first floor was the roof which may have had an earthen bomb proof covering that was removed at a later date. After the casemated work had been built the tower was adapted for other uses though the first floor remained as accommodation for officers.
The Fort as shown today, was originally to be a circular casemated one for 45 guns, with two tiers of casemated guns and a third tier on the roof firing through embrasures men; there was to be barrack accommodation for 250 men. This fort completely enclosed the older gun tower. The ground floor had the entrance and the casemated battery covering the Haven where 16 x 10 inch RML guns were mounted behind armoured shields. In the gorge at the rear at the entrance were three 9 inch RML guns; underneath the casemated battery were the magazines and stores. Above the gun casemates at first floor level were the casemated barracks for 5 officers and 175 men that faced inwards, again in the gorge was a casemated battery for 4 x 9 inch RMLs. There were to be, on the roof of the casemates, three turrets mounting two 25 ton guns in each, but like the Solent Forts in Portsmouth, these were never built.
With the improvement in range and accuracy of artillery by the 1880s the Fort was considered weak and the magazines insecure.; it was proposed to remove eleven of the 10 inch RMLs and all the 9 inch RMLs so that the Fort could be strengthened. By 1895 onlt 5 x 10 inch RMLs remained in the casemated battery although the 9 inch RMLs remained in the gorge. Also by this date, the Fort had acquired two 6pdr QF guns to cover a nearby minefield. In the basement, most of the old magazines were filled with concrete and those that were not adapted for other uses. A number of the armoured shields were removed from unused casemates and sent to the casemated battery at Hubberstone Fort. Three 10 inch RML barrels remain on the fort but are partially dismantled.
In 1902 positions for 4, 12pdr QF guns in two groups were built on the roof of the casemates with positions for four maxim guns. In the meantime, all the 9 inch RMLs had been withdrawn and two of the 10 inch RMLs, these latter ones were replaced by two searchlights. The remaining three 10 inch guns were retained as ‘run past’ guns until 1907/8.
During WW1 two of the 12pdr QF were withdrawn; by 1929 the searchlights and the remaining two 12pdr QF were removed and the Fort was sold in 1932 for £60. In many ways the Fort is the most interesting of the Haven’s defences though sadly the most inaccessible.
Aerial View
Basement
Casement Level
Top Level
Smoking Gun
Matello Tower
Powder Store
Officers Barracks
Issue Hatch
Case mates
Engine Room
From the ledge outside.
The ledge, suicidal shot.
The Drying Room
One Of The kitchens.
Casemate
Twelve and a half tonner
Basement
Original photo from 1870
More images at http://www.silverstealth.co.uk
Super sweet explore requires boat access, 20 minute trip on a rib at breakneck speeds
Original marttello fort in the centre. lots off cannons in the casemates however they have been decommisioned by cutting in half.Commenced 18 July 1859 Completed 31 December 1871
Cost £96,840
Constructed on Stack Rocks 800yds from South Hook, and 1,500 yds from Chapel Bay
Type – Sea Fort
Guns 23
Barrack Accommodation - 5 Officers 175 men
ARMAMENT
1871 – 1895
16 X 10 inch RML
7 X 9 inch RML
1895 5 x 10 inch RML
7 x 9 inch RML
2 x 6pdr QF
1904 – 1907 3 x 10 inch RML
1902 4 x 12pdr QF
1917-19 2 x 12pdr QF
1929 Disarmed
Technical History
A work on Stack Rock went back to the initial proposals for the defence of the Haven made by Colonel Bryce in 1817. General Burgoyne reiterated the need for a work there and in the mid 1850s a three gun tower was built; it is not generally appreciated that this tower still remains, as it was enveloped by the casemated work that was built in the 1860s. The tower had a basement for stores and the magazine, at ground floor level was the main gun battery. Above it was the first floor with accommodation for a garrison of an officer and 30 men; above the first floor was the roof which may have had an earthen bomb proof covering that was removed at a later date. After the casemated work had been built the tower was adapted for other uses though the first floor remained as accommodation for officers.
The Fort as shown today, was originally to be a circular casemated one for 45 guns, with two tiers of casemated guns and a third tier on the roof firing through embrasures men; there was to be barrack accommodation for 250 men. This fort completely enclosed the older gun tower. The ground floor had the entrance and the casemated battery covering the Haven where 16 x 10 inch RML guns were mounted behind armoured shields. In the gorge at the rear at the entrance were three 9 inch RML guns; underneath the casemated battery were the magazines and stores. Above the gun casemates at first floor level were the casemated barracks for 5 officers and 175 men that faced inwards, again in the gorge was a casemated battery for 4 x 9 inch RMLs. There were to be, on the roof of the casemates, three turrets mounting two 25 ton guns in each, but like the Solent Forts in Portsmouth, these were never built.
With the improvement in range and accuracy of artillery by the 1880s the Fort was considered weak and the magazines insecure.; it was proposed to remove eleven of the 10 inch RMLs and all the 9 inch RMLs so that the Fort could be strengthened. By 1895 onlt 5 x 10 inch RMLs remained in the casemated battery although the 9 inch RMLs remained in the gorge. Also by this date, the Fort had acquired two 6pdr QF guns to cover a nearby minefield. In the basement, most of the old magazines were filled with concrete and those that were not adapted for other uses. A number of the armoured shields were removed from unused casemates and sent to the casemated battery at Hubberstone Fort. Three 10 inch RML barrels remain on the fort but are partially dismantled.
In 1902 positions for 4, 12pdr QF guns in two groups were built on the roof of the casemates with positions for four maxim guns. In the meantime, all the 9 inch RMLs had been withdrawn and two of the 10 inch RMLs, these latter ones were replaced by two searchlights. The remaining three 10 inch guns were retained as ‘run past’ guns until 1907/8.
During WW1 two of the 12pdr QF were withdrawn; by 1929 the searchlights and the remaining two 12pdr QF were removed and the Fort was sold in 1932 for £60. In many ways the Fort is the most interesting of the Haven’s defences though sadly the most inaccessible.
Aerial View
Basement
Casement Level
Top Level
Smoking Gun
Matello Tower
Powder Store
Officers Barracks
Issue Hatch
Case mates
Engine Room
From the ledge outside.
The ledge, suicidal shot.
The Drying Room
One Of The kitchens.
Casemate
Twelve and a half tonner
Basement
Original photo from 1870
More images at http://www.silverstealth.co.uk
