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View Full Version : Hubberstone Fort, Pembrokeshire (May08) (ARCHIVED)



Rochester
16-05-2008, 12:49 PM
Hubberstone Fort

Construction Commenced 1860, Completed 1863, Cost £55,000.00

Coastal Defence Battery

Type - Dry

Guns 28 – 32

Used in WW11 as British Army Camp, and US Seabees Base

ARMAMENT

1870 Mounted 11 x 9 inch RML

1886
Casemate Battery 9 x 9 inch RML
Open Battery 1 x 10 inch RML
8 x 9 inch RML
proposed 3 x 6 inch BL VII
1908 1 x 12pr QF

CAPONIERS 1

COUNTERSCARP GALLERIES 2

MONCRIEFF PITS 8


Technical History

Fort Hubberstone was approved by the Royal Commission of 1860 as part of the defences at Milford Haven. It was completed in that year as a nine gun installation. Work then began on the casemated battery, this being completed in 1863, as an eleven gun battery with a further eight guns on the terreplein and nine more in an open east flank battery. At the top of the site is a defensible barrack, approximately semi-circular with a high gorge wall. From the right hand corner of the barrack, a sunken way runs around the terrplein down to the casemates. The ditch in front of the barrack is protected by caponiers and a counterscarp gallery, the entrance to the work being over a drawbridge.

In August 1868, plans were approved for the alteration of the work to replace eight of the guns on the terreplein with eight guns in Moncrieff pits. Despite the ridiculous application of this type of gun in such a position the work was completed by 1872. The main gun casemates were armed with eleven 12-ton RML guns by 1872. By 1881 the open battery was re-armed with 10 inch RML guns and the fort was complete. In 1884 the infantry garrison was removed. In 1885 the three remaining Moncrieff guns were removed. In 1908 its sole armament was one 12 pr. QF gun in a practice battery. It was never upgraded with modern weapons and shortly after World War One it was abandoned.

It was sold in 1932. In 1939-45 it was used as a commercial air raid shelter, British Army Camp and US Seabees Base. From then on it has deteriorated into the condition shown in the pictures.

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http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff74/silverstealth_bucket/hubberstone%20fort/OurHousesm.jpg


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