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Sensitive Conversion of Fortifications presentation Oct17
- 1. ‘Sensitive Conversion ofVictorian Fortifications’ - Case Studies October 2017 by DBeck
- 2. This presentation is prepared for The Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) one day event ‘Sustainable Regeneration of Former Defence Sites and comprises ’ a compilation of Case Studies of various projects undertaken by the writer.
- 3. Short Bio: Deniz is a fully qualified Chartered Architect (BA (Hons) Dip Arch, ARB, R.I.B.A , CA, OCDEA ) who has led projects that have achieved multiple architectural awards, and also served as chair for the 2014 RIBA South Awards Jury. She gained extensive project managing experience in the commercial sector before moving on to specialise in Victorian Fortification conversions, ultimately leading her to qualify as a Conservation Architect. She is currently working on the conversion of an ex-Ministry of Defence site, and advises local government on other fortifications and Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the area.
- 4. CONTENTS: PERSONAL NOTE POTENTIAL – Case Studies Spitbank Fort Hotwalls Studios St Helena -SPECIALISTTEAM MANAGEMENT -‘HERITAGE LOTTERY’ & ‘CCF’ FUND APPLICATIONS -BRICKWORK REPAIRAND RESTORATION -EH (HE), STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATION FUTURE – WIDERVISION
- 6. The benefits that a seaside can have upon a city are innumerable…
- 7. Transformation of Spitbank Fort into a five-star venue
- 8. Converting Point Battery into artists’ workshops
- 9. design challenges = exhilarating opportunities
- 10. POTENTIAL
- 11. …from a war damaged city to a touristic destination. DUBROVNIK Croatia, DUBROVNIK
- 12. The popular restaurant ‘Arsenal’ used to be a shipyard swimming and kayaking
- 13. sports venue with a difference… swimming and kayaking
- 15. Extract map showing the location of Spitbank Fort, one of the four sea forts in the Solent. (WO78-5024-002) The structure is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This network of military structures was the first line and most visible element of Britain’s coastal defence system. Spitbank Fort is also one of the most well preserved examples of this kind of building in and around the Solent. SPITBANK FORT
- 16. One of the four sea forts in the Solent. The Lower Level sits just above sea level and originally contained ammunition stores. The Upper Level, (Gun level) seaward blast walls measure 635mm (25”) thick and, composed of concrete, iron plate and teak laminate sandwiched in layers. The inner Harbour facing rooms are relatively less protected with brick-vaulted interiors and granite walls.
- 17. The monument was on English Heritage’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register as a priority Category D case, but wasn’t grant-aided by English Heritage. The concrete roof was in a particularly bad state of disrepair after years of water ingress due to failure of the asphalt surface.
- 18. Spitbank Fort was purchased in 2009 by Mike Clare, the founder of Dream’s Bed company. During the Spitbank Fort renovation he started a new venture called ‘Amazing Retreats’, which now boasts a portfolio of similar unusal properties such as Scottish castles, Welsh convents and the two larger sea forts in the Solent…
- 19. D Beck, Project Architect for PLC Architects at the time, worked to develop a scheme for a new use as a luxury venue, and co-ordinated design work from other consultants as a lead designer, due to the Historic structure having very limited services available. -Negotiated with the planning authority for a Change of Use application, unravelling a complex Scheduled Ancient Monument, and resolving planning issues. -Liaised with Palmerston Fort Society and the Local Conservation Officer to acquire all available information relevant to the structure. -worked closely with an expert from English Heritage for the SMC application, Prepared Tender documents, and deal with the main contractor for the duration of the project. The client managed the project , with the inspection of parts of the works being carried out by us.
- 20. The fort is a circular structure, approximately 49 metres in diameter at the base and narrowing to 44meters. The Lower level is above sea level and contained the ammunition stores and kitchen.
- 21. Historic photos
- 22. New uses: ‘a unique experience venue’ Roof area New function room (fully glazed, single storey structure wrapped around the existing original lighthouse) and external recreation space Gun Deck New guest rooms, restaurant, bar, lounge and kitchen Basement Treatment, entertainment and generator room, stores and services
- 23. Refurbishment The reinstatement of the original circular corridor has enabled free-flowing circulation . Original features like the officer’s stove, the hot water storage and the hooks where the soldier’s hammocks were hung were all refurbished and retained.
- 24. Refurbishment Eight new guestrooms are located on the gun deck
- 25. Conservation concrete roof areas were repaired and the existing asphalt roof was replaced. iron cladding was cleaned, repaired and repainted. the shelter concrete roof beams were removed and a new concrete ring beam was added the gun emplacements were weatherproofed. Timber windows were repaired. the courtyard’s external brick walls were cleaned.
- 29. The extensions to the lighthouse and the WWII structure are modest in scale and are of a simple style. They have redressed the balance in a manner that has produced a cohesive appearance using in materials that are complimentary to the historic environment.
- 30. Refurbishment ‘services’ New services were distributed within the existing openings and installed on an identified section of the wall, leaving original walls exposed.
- 31. The Upper floor service distribution problem was solved by surface fixing under a new raised floor which followed the route of the circular corridor, and entered the guest rooms as a step feature.
- 33. Today The original gun emplacements
- 34. RIBA South Conservation Award 2012 Portsmouth Society Best Conservation Award 2012 RIBA South Regional Award 2012
- 36. The ARTches –HOTWALLS STUDIOS Coastal Communities Funding Application by PLC Architects Construction by Ermc Architecture
- 37. 'The ARTches Project’, was outlined within the Seafront Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document, dated April 2013. The document states: The key elevation of all the arches faces Broad Street and conversion of these structures should seek to enliven the street scene and create interest along this route. Conversion of the arches must not detract from their character.
- 38. 'The Point Battery itself lies on a small spit of land projecting into the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour, affording views of the coastline and across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
- 39. 1.The Round Tower, 2.Point Battery, 3.Flanking Battery, 4.Point Barracks, 5.Sallyport 1 4 3 2 5
- 40. 1.The Round Tower, 2.Point Battery, 3.Flanking Battery, 4.Point Barracks, 5.Sallyport HISTORIC MAP The Round Tower was erected on the site together with a similar one on the Gosport shore to guard the harbour mouth in the early part of the 15th century. The Eighteen-gun Battery was erected in the 1680s as part of the last phase of the de Gomme defensive works of Portsmouth; the large L-shaped trace is visible today. A large casemated stone battery stretches along Point beach parallel to the sea, with a short flanking battery with four casemates, linked in turn via another two casemates to the Round Tower. In 1847 the nearby houses were demolished to build the modern Point Battery. The gun Casemates were deepened to accommodate larger guns, while an extra section of four stone Casemates were constructed, being separated from the round tower by a small L-shaped flanking gallery. These were utilised as soldiers barrack accommodation, with the Broad Street Officers quarters and administration buildings closing off the courtyard area into an irregular triangle shape. In 1890s, along other updates, two defence electric lights were installed to illuminate the harbour entrance. In 1962-3 Portsmouth City Council demolished the gorge wall and associated buildings along Broad Street, removed the rear walls and ammunition recesses of the main gun Casemates and cut the soldiers’ barracks in half with the extent of the former structure’s plan inscribed into the cobbled surfacing of the courtyard. 1 2 1 2 3 4 3 4 5 5 The site plan showing the building arrangement dated 1880
- 42. ‘..a powerful sense of place and considerable communal heritage value, it should emphasise the potential for re-defining this area as a cultural focus and public space.’
- 43. ‘..a powerful sense of place and considerable communal heritage value, and should emphasise the potential for re-defining this area as a cultural focus and public space.’ Unique location and potential new uses
- 44. The seaward-facing gunports were to be reopened and be fitted with toughened glass set within thin frames
- 45. beach link Periodic Market / Exhibition Area link Artist Studios Cycle standsoffice cafe Brasserie Spill- out area Public Toilets terrace
- 47. Successfully granted £1.7m for the development of Point Battery for Portsmouth City Council as the ‘Arts Quarter of the City’. • Extensive brickwork cleaning • Removing cementitious material from the brick face (Needle gun, TORC) • Service installation for toilets and studios and restaurant • Excavation of Parade Ground
- 48. The benefits that a seaside can have upon a city are innumerable…
- 49. The
- 50. site details for service contractors
- 51. The
- 54. Hotwalls Studios Project has been shortlisted five Architectural awards in 2017. The Portsmouth Society
- 56. Masterplanning of JamesTown and Ruperts Bay including Mundens for investor promotion
- 65. Portsmouth has many potential…
Editor's Notes
- Hotwalls Studios development opened July 2016, owned and managed by Portsmouth City Council
- The event held in partnership with Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) looks at Former Defence establishments and regeneration of their heritage, focusing particularly on the South East Region’s experience of land disposal. The presentations considers the potential social, economic and environmental benefits of these redevelopments and share experience of defence site redevelopment and models of good sustainable practice.
- Portsmouth is known for its rich naval heritage, and its status as the origin of the Royal Navy and home of the largest UK naval base have left it with an assortment of defensive structures and facilities, some dating back over six hundred years.
- Photo is gunnery laying in the ditch for ‘Command of the Heights’ project bid preparation, Medway, Kent. Royal Engineers designed these defence architecture with same detailing and materials which brings these different locations together..
- Ever since my childhood I have lived in cities located by the sea: Istanbul, Kuwait, New York, and now Portsmouth. I love the smell of the air, the sound of the waves, and the ever-changing weather. The benefits that a seaside can have upon a city are innumerable too, spanning trade and leisure, but from the earliest civilisations, these advantages have been underpinned by the ever-present threat of an attack – a menace which is fundamental in shaping a cityscape, inspiring extensive fortifications and defence architecture.
- As an architect, I have been extremely lucky to work on many Victorian Fortifications projects since moving to Portsmouth – projects which would not have been possible if I didn’t live here. There is a visceral excitement and enduring satisfaction to be found, for example, in repurposing a Scheduled Ancient Monument, originally designed to launch attacks on enemies entering the city, into a five-star luxury hotel, without losing its identity or its historic charm. Similarly, a previous project saw the transformation of Spitbank Fort, one of four unique circular sea forts in the Solent, into a five-star luxury venue.
- Portsmouth, Gosport and the Isle of Wight are littered with land fortifications which also attract investors for Heritage Lottery applications, and I have had the privilege to design schemes for several of these, one of which is the conversion of Point Barracks into artists' workshops, Hotwalls Studios, for Portsmouth City Council – a project I have been following from the concept, and which finally was opened on site summer 2016.
- Local architecture and the cityscape are imprinted on the work of Portsmouth's creative industries, and I like being part of this community which is proud of its neighbourhood. What's more, as an architect living by the sea, the possibility of waking up to a terrible storm, glorious sunshine, fierce winds or a mystical sea fog, is priceless. The environment adds yet another dimension to the design challenges to be faced here. Most of time, however, such struggles present themselves as exhilarating opportunities
- Dubrovnik was shelled, bombed and strafed during the Homeland War of 1991-92. Look at my picture of Stradun as it stands now
- The present shape of the walls was defined in the 14th century after the city gained its full independence from Venetians. The most prominent portion of the harbour is the three enormous arches (the fourth original arch was walled in) of a large arsenal built in the late 12th century and enlarged in the latter part 15th century. The harbour is also the oldest shipyard within the city and is still in use today
- Ston was a major fort of the Ragusan Republic whose defensive walls were regarded as a notable feat of medieval architecture erected to protect the salt pans. The town's inner wall measures 890 metres in length, while the Great Wall outside the town has a circumference of 5 km. The walls extend to Mali Ston ("Little Ston"), a smaller town on the northern side .
- The case studies focusing only the construction details, day to day site running, challenges due to the unnuals location and the structure. Detailed information for the history of the fort can be found Victorian Forts and Artillery which is run by David Moore whom helped to provide detailed information on the existing features and fittings during our journey.
- The structure is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (listing number 1018587) with the first date of scheduling noted as 12 June 1967. There were a total of 70 such forts and batteries ultimately constructed following the 1859 Royal Commission, a report which established the necessity for improved defences against advances in warfare technology and a potential French Naval invasion. This network of military structures was the first line and most visible element of Britain’s coastal defence system. An effective showcase for the common design principles that characterise this system, Spitbank Fort is also one of the most well preserved examples of this kind of building in and around the Solent.
- The Lower Level (basement) is above the sea level and contained the ammunition stores and kitchen;
- The monument was on English Heritage’s ‘Heritage at Risk’ register as a priority Category D * case but wasn’t grant-aided by English Heritage. (*slow decay identified, with conservation solutions agreed but not yet implemented) The concrete roof was in a particularly bad state of disrepair after years of water ingress due to failure of the asphalt surface.
- In 2009 we were commissioned to develop a scheme for a new use to the existing structure and as a part of the construction tender package to identify the necessary repair works in conjunction with historic work experts. We co-ordinated with design work from other consultants (Structural, Mechanical & Electrical, Fire Consultants) as the Historic structure had very limited services available, and which were not fit for a luxury venue space. Our involvement covered detailed negotiation with the planning authority, which even included the ‘description of the proposal’ and unravelling of complex listed building and planning issues. The fort is not a listed building but as it is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, similar rules applied. We also liaised with Palmerston Fort Society and the Local Conservation Officer in order to find and absorb all available information relevant to the structure. The project involved working closely with an expert from English Heritage, as well as dealing with the main contractor for the duration of the project. After tender was awarded, the client managed the project themselves, with only the inspection of some of the works being carried out by us.
- The fort is a circular structure, approximately 49meters in diameter at the base narrowing to 44meters. There are three levels; the gun deck, where the entry point to of the Fort is located, basement level, containing the shell and cartridge stores and the historic kitchen and the external area on the roof. The gun deck is constructed as two halves. The outer iron sections hold nine guns and the inner brick-vaulted and granite faced section, facing the harbour entrance, is designed to hold six guns. Peace time accommodation consisted of two barrack rooms, each for twelve men, and quarters for officers; war time would have been spent in hammocks which could accommodate 131 men in total. The light passage at mezzanine level was equipped with a small railway to service the oil lamps which were used to illuminate the basement stores. There was a sophisticated regime of changing clothes and shifting lobbies so that the possibility of combustible material entering the magazine was prevented. On the top level, the roof is constructed from concrete and is accessed via the gun deck’s open courtyard. The original roof has been altered over the years as gun technology has changed. The World War II gun emplacement and lighthouse building are the most prominent structures visible from a distance
- The eight guestrooms are located in the historic gun rooms, each with a small centrally located window for the gun to project from. Two of these rooms offer large spaces designated as bridal suites. The large en-suites have been located in spaces most suited to the geometry of the existing area, so the overall space is less visually disturbed. Special care was taken with the detailing to ensure the en suites did not meet the ceiling, maintaining the view of the original ceiling as a whole, and shadow gaps were introduced to all new original wall-ceiling abutments. These details were designed and issued to EH for approval as the tender package was being prepared so the approval period did not overlap with the site works.
- Conservation works: The existing concrete roof areas were repaired and the existing asphalt roof was replaced with new. External iron cladding was cleaned, repaired and repainted. The thick blast brick wall to the shelter area was repaired, removing structurally unstable concrete roof beams (as they had weathered badly and were in danger of collapse) and a new concrete ring beam was added to the top section of the walls to tie them together. The existing gun emplacements were uncovered, cleaned from rubble and rubbish, repaired and weatherproofed. Delicate masonry-cleaning techniques were adopted for the courtyard’s external brick walls to remove the years of staining and wear and tear.
- 1. Gun emplacement by the WWII Structure 2. Lighthouse building-upper level 3. Water ingress evident within the gun deck rooms 4. Roof detail 5. Window openings and existing disused landing stage and staircases
- Asphalt replacement and repairs Rebuilding of Lighthouse Concrete repairs and unrevealing of gun emplacement
- Scaffolding challenges for exterior paint treatment –war ship paint spec Site supervision – wrong application of the fit-out details
- The services for these new areas are directed through the original lamp passage which is located between the two main floors. The existing windows where candles would have lit the ammunition stores are maintained as the light source to ensure the historic fabric of the original rooms is kept intact. This also enabled us to recreate the original lighting conditions, shadows and overall atmosphere in these unusual areas.
- The Upper floor service distribution was a problem, and was one of the concerns for EH. This was solved by mainly surface fixing under a new raised floor which was following the route of the circular corridor, then entering the guest rooms as a step feature.
- Existing chimney cowls, providing ventilation to the lower levels, were refurbished and repainted. Old mismatched cowls were replaced with new similar style ones.
- the planning application for the renovation and conversion of the Point Battery arches in Old Portsmouth. The intention is to provide a dedicated artistic and cultural centre for the city in and around the currently vacant historic structure of Point Battery, the focus of which is the creation of a number of new artist's studios and workshops. As well as being situated within Conservation Area no.4, Old Portsmouth, the battery is also a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, and considered to be of exceptional national interest. This statement and the proposals it represents have been prepared with consideration to both local and national planning policy frameworks, as well as advice from relevant statutory bodies such as English Heritage, in order to ensure that the development will both preserve and enhance the existing historical and architectural context.
- PLC Architects has been instructed by Portsmouth City Council to develop the proposals summarised above, based on a scheme referred to as 'The ARTches Project', outlined within the Seafront Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document, dated April 2013. The document states: The key elevation of all the arches faces Broad Street and conversion of these structures should seek to enliven the street scene and create interest along this route. Conversion of the arches must not detract from their character. Signage should be discreet and sympathetic to this scheduled ancient monument.
- Point Battery itself lies on a small spit of land projecting into the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour, affording views of the coastline and across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. The site sits directly adjacent to Broad Street and enjoys strong pedestrian and cycle links to Southsea Common, the seafront and Gunwharf Quays, whilst public transport is provided for in the form of bus, train, and ferry terminals. Local population density is relatively high, and nearby commercial outlets generally consist of pubs, tearooms and convenience stores.
- the Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument and its setting at Point Battery in Old Portsmouth. The building is owned by the city council, who acquired it following its decommissioning in 1958. Standing mostly empty for the past fifty years, maintaining its current condition has become untenable without the means of it generating its own revenue. The Council now intend to refurbish the building with the intention of creating a new artistic and cultural hub, thus securing a sustainable future.
- One of the earliest fortifications on the site of the battery consisted of one of a pair of wooden towers, from which an iron boom chain could be extended across the narrow harbour entrance to protect the port. The tower and adjacent defensive walls were upgraded periodically until the late-seventeenth century when the Point, by now outside the city walls, saw the construction of the more permanent Eighteen Gun Battery, forming the L-shape footprint and vaulted brickwork casemates still visible today. In the mid-nineteenth century it was renamed Point Battery and was significantly expanded through the construction of four large casemates for soldiers' accommodation to the north and a line of small buildings along the boundary wall parallel to Broad Street in the west, enclosing a tapered triangular parade ground with a gateway at the southern extremity. In addition to this an upper level was constructed, adding a further three casemates to the flanking battery. Upgrades to gun emplacements and the installation of electric searchlights took place around the turn of the twentieth century, but the final and most significant modifications took place following its acquisition by the city in 1958. The boundary wall and associated buildings adjoining Broad Street were demolished, along with a significant portion of the accommodation block, ultimately opening up the site and adjacent foreshore to the public. The original extent of the accommodation block has since been identified via the use of cobblestones.
- Condition report and artefact survey carried out. Significance Point Battery, and the preceding fortifications it replaced, encapsulates the earliest attempts at the defence of a port city which would ultimately come to define the maritime capabilities of an empire. It lies on an outcrop of land which has overseen more than eight hundred years of naval activity and historic events. For hundreds of years, Portsmouth’s importance as a naval base meant that it was one of the most heavily defended cities in Europe. Recognising that whoever controlled the Point also controlled the Harbour - it was here that the early inhabitants erected the first permanent defences. At its peak, it was the cultural heart of the city, attracting thousands of sailors and visitors from around the world, and has been immortalised in works by artists such as cartoonist Thomas Rowlandson and the composer William Walton. The 'Old Sallyport' is of particular significance, being located directly adjacent to Point Battery, and along with the landing stage known as 'The Kings Stairs', became the point of entry for the crews and passengers of the many vessels which would visit the city every year, not to mention the point of departure for some of the most important military and political figures in the country's history; a nearby inscription reads:
- With commanding views across the Solent and the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour, the battery also occupies a pivotal location within the historic defences of the city which, along with the adjoining Round and St Edward's Towers, is fundamental to any appreciation of Portsmouth as a naval and maritime centre. This significance has invested Point Battery with a powerful sense of place and considerable communal heritage value, and should emphasise the potential for re-defining this area as a cultural focus and public space." Richard Massey from EH
- The existing ‘terrace’ for the searchlight emplacement on the seaward elevation
- The primary objective for this development is to provide an artist's quarter and creative centre in the vacant arches and ancillary buildings that make up Point Battery. Focusing on the conversion and renovation of the arches themselves, each space will form a versatile working environment for its occupants and will collectively act as a gallery showcasing a variety of work and encouraging visitors to interact and engage with the artists. Interior spaces will include simple modular furniture units fitted in a non-destructive manner and affording the occupants a degree of versatility depending on their needs. It is clear that the single most visible, and therefore important aspect of the scheme will be the new glass frontages to the arches, and their design has been considered very carefully to ensure that the visibility of the natural form of the structure is not impeded. A curtain wall system of toughened glass fixed within low-profile frames and set back within the elevation will provide maximum two-way visibility for users and visitors, and will carry clear but understated unit signage in a sympathetic and uniform approach. Additionally, secure shuttering will be integrated within the framework, being completely concealed when open, yet providing secure and attractive bespoke metal protective screens during out-of-hours periods. The seaward-facing gunports to be reopened will be fitted toughened glass set within thin frames and fixed deep within the opening to maintain their visual depth when viewed externally. The windows will be fixed closed and the glass of a strength appropriate to their location overlooking a shingle beach. The new terrace will be simple and unobtrusive, taking a modern form of a timber deck and glass balustrade fixed to a steel frame structure and accessed by a flood-resistant door at the side of the searchlight emplacement, which itself will receive internal renovation and the installation of a new window (of a similar design to those fitted to the gunports) within the existing opening. The objective is to construct a simple modern addition which neither imitates nor draws attention away from the adjacent historic structure.
- The scale and position of the new structure will also serve as a modern, three-dimensional interpretation of the original extent of the soldiers' accommodation (already demarcated in the paving) and will, along with the new bench seating and foliage, extend the appeal of the arches into the adjoining open space. This will encourage people to feel comfortable using the space for leisure, relaxation and socialising. Our ambition is to ultimately see the parade ground used as a regular, temporary marketplace, supporting activity associated with the arches and reinforcing its role as a hub for the city's considerable creative community.
- The key to the success of this project is striking a balance between the provision of modern fixtures and conveniences for a variety of contemporary uses, and the restoration and preservation of the historic fabric of the building. To this end, the design was driven by a focus on reversible and non-destructive work rather than material alterations. This would essentially allow (should the need arise) the removal of any additions and the reversion of the structure to its current state with minimal visible changes. An example of this approach can been seen in the proposed pergola; although directly associated with and benefitting the four northern arches, this would essentially be a freestanding structure set away from the facade of the building. Removal would simply entail dismantling the fixings to the ground, leaving the fabric of the building itself untouched.
- Round Tower Lime stone lime mortar repair survey, mortar lab analysis to match colour and mixture. The quarry was closed but we managed to find alternative matching colour sand…
- Scaffolding above the lighthouse depending the weather conditions and tides… Sample panel for brickwork morter repair and repointing and rebuilding Entrance to terrace, flood barrier and none return valve Water ingress to the kitchen area –stone repointing stopped the water but didn’t eliminated, wall recladded with drainage to discharge into the terrace running under the raised floor
- Regular site attendance is essential for the successful finishes
- Ladies WC door and slit windows in the canteen reinstated
- One of the most satisfying part of this whole process was = During the public consultation there were petitioning against the project then another one started for supporting the project. Once the development is completed we heard the value of the houses in the area increased by %15; also seeing some of those angry residents regularly in the canteen terrace makes my day.
- With the new airport opening in 2016, we were invited by the St Helena government to prepare a bid for various elements of the island in preparation to high value low number tourist they were expecting…
- St Helena has a lot to offer, more indigenous plants and animals than anywhere else, special coffee, wreck diving, fishing are some of them… St Helena had many famous visitors, Captain Cook in 1775, Duke of Wellington and naturalist William Burchell but most famous is Napoleon I in 1815 was place for detention and died in 1821. Charles Darwin visited in 1836, and thousands of captive slaves were set free here after 1840 when the ships which were carrying slaves from Africa to Brazil attacked from this island by the British ships.
- When the East India Company settled the island in 1659 the tiny James Fort (now Castle) was thought sufficient to defend St Helena. The island’s best defences were seen as the coast itself with its high cliffs and lack of safe landing places. But after the Dutch invasion of 1673, opinion changed. It was decided to build batteries all around the island. Munden’s Battery is a fair-sized World War II military facility. A series of ladders lead from the main battery down nearly to the shoreline. Large section of it is carved into the mountain.
- We are spoilt with choices here in Portsmouth for re-development opportunities, with a little bit of vision and hard graft these are some of the possible unique re-development which secures the sustainable future of those following Ancient Monuments.
- Fort Cumberland. Five large bastions, each linked with long curtains. Brick vaulted casemates for barracks accommodation with a passage through the mid point in curtain. 60 odd casemates various sizes and shapes
- Long Curtain Moat and Kings Bastion in Old Portsmouth. I make sure to have a quick glance every time I drive by; one day I had the opportunity to go in one of them!
- Long Curtain Moat and Kings Bastion in Old Portsmouth. The need of a Southsea based ‘nice’ small office, by the seaside sparked this idea… I would love to work here, who wouldn’t?