Explore the History

Originally built as a coastal defence fort in 1855, Fort Victoria was soon rendered obsolete with the invention of the rifled cannon, after only 10 years from construction the fort was relegated to a barracks, find out more about the history of Fort Victoria in our Information Room and dedicated history page. 

In 1908 the men of the Royal Engineers stationed at Fort Victoria were involved in the dramatic rescue of the sailors aboard the HMS Gladiator as she was sinking off of the fort. Learn more in the HMS Gladiator Exhibition.   

Victorian Cannon mounted on replica gun carriage. One of four cannon that still remain on site. 

Discover the experimental See-saw search light emplacement installed at the fort by the Royal Engineers. 

Learn more about the fort, its features and history by discovering and reading our interpretation boards, these are located by the cannon, on the roof top walk, along the coast wall, by the search light and in the country park at the viewpoint. 

When the main fort structure was demolished, relics were left behind such as these huge granite "holdfasts" that were originally set in the casemates for securing the cannon. You can still see these set in the walls of the casemates that remain.

Often mistaken for a mill stone, these huge stone pintles were originally set in the floor of the casemates to act as a swivel for the cannon. 

At the end of WW2 an experimental aircraft the Miles Monitor crashed into the beach here at Fort Victoria killing the crew, one of the engines is still visible at low tide. Find out more on our dedicated web page here.

In the woods you may stumble across features like this coal shute which fed the underground boilers for electricity generators, around the site you will notice narrow guage railway buried which was used for transporting mines to the pier. 

To fully appreciate the history and heritage of the site before you set off exploring, take 30 minutes to read through the history in our visitor information room.