Fort Hubberstone, Milford Haven, United Kingdom

Fort Hubberstone, on the west side of Milford Haven, belongs to a series of forts built as part of the inner line of defence of the Haven following the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom. Together with Popton Fort on the opposite shore, it provided an interlocking field of fire, and represented the last layer of defence before reaching the Royal Naval dockyard at Pembroke Dock.

Construction began in 1860 and was completed in 1863. It is a large battery, with eleven guns in casemates, eight in an open battery above, with another nine in an open flank battery, and a large barracks to the rear. It is a D-shaped structure, with a bomb-proof roof which protected the barracks and other buildings from mortar projectiles. On its landward side, it was protected by a deep ditch, and on the seaward side by a counter-scarp gallery. The associated casemate battery is located further down the headland and separated from the fort.

The fort was abandoned after World War I as a consequence of the Haldane Reforms. A 1919 proposal to convert the structure into social housing came to nothing. World War II saw the fort once again in active use, when it was used as an air raid shelter and army camp for American military personnel.

On a good site, the fort has fallen into disrepair. Under the ownership of Milford Haven Port Authority, there were various unsuccessful plans to restore the structure. The site is not currently open to the public, and has been the scene of non-fatal injuries to trespassers.

References:

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Castles and fortifications in United Kingdom

User Reviews

Warren “Woz” Thomas (4 years ago)
Very interesting and some great scenery.

Shaun Phillips (5 years ago)
Loved this place growing up!

I K (5 years ago)
My favourite fishing spot . Beautiful view

Jason Cartwright (6 years ago)
There's nothing much to review, it was built in 1863 and is privately owned. No access is allowed due to the level of disrepair the site is in. It could be a wonderful place to visit if investment in it were found, but for now it seems that it's just resigned to a piece of history.

David Maclachlan (6 years ago)
You can't get into the fort as far as I know. This is an imposing structure, one of about 9 Palmerston Forts built c1860 that protected the Haven from an enemy that never came. Across the water is Fort Popton which looks very similar.

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