Portlands Breakwater Fort, known as Chequer Fort began life around 1852. Twas' designed by a Captain of the Royal Engineers, Captain E. H Steward.
Millions of tons of Portland Stone went into the building of the Breakwater and the Fort, but this proved quite a burden on the builders of this huge construction. Heavy storms and the sheer weight of the stone in the fort created subsidence, and many cracks appeared during its construction. However, the design was altered to allow for this, so the original plan to have 3 Teirs, were reduced to allow for 2, and the original expectation to build completely in Portland stone to act as armour changed, when it was clad in 3 layers of 15cm thick Iron plating which was cast in Sheffield and shipped from Gosport to fit onto the Fort.
The design allowed for 14 x 12.5" RML (Rifle Muzzel Loading) cannon weighing 38 Ton each in the lower casement, and 7 cannon atop it.
As you can imagine, all this weight added to an already subsiding Fort, must have weighed heavy on the engineers minds (No Pun intended).
During the Fort's life, it was updated on numerous occasions to match the requirement for the age, seeing out both WW1 and WW2. finally being abandoned in 1956.
During the De-mob, the cannon were removed, and deemed obsolete, so they went for scrap...However 4 Breach blocks remain on the outer side of the fort. (Pictured above) Tis said, that when a boat came to remove them...the task was so difficult, they were abandoned...and now they still sit...rusting away, and playing their vital part in protecting Portland Harbour.
The Fort still remains all alone on the Breakwater. It is not open to the public, but as I work for the Harbour Authority, I regularly get to visit. I am truly lucky to see up close...the fantastic stonework of this wonderful Portland Building.
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