The Palmerston Forts

Palmerston Forts

The Palmerston Forts are a group of forts and associated structures, around the coast of Britain.The forts were built during the Victorian period on the recommendations of the 1860 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom, following concerns about the strength of the French Navy, and...

that defend Dover

Dover

Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...

 were built in response to the 1859 Royal Commission

Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom

In 1859 Lord Palmerston instigated the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom because of serious concerns that France might attempt to invade the UK...

 dealing with the perceived threat of a French invasion. The forts were intended to defend the Port of Dover, that would provide direct access to an inavasion fleet, from capture. Construction was carried out by the Royal Engineers

Royal Engineers

The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....

 and civilian contractors (under Royal Engineer supervision). In addition to the newly constructed forts, extensive work was carried out on existing fortifications. The fortifications built or upgraded as part of the works were:

• Admiralty Pier Turret
  Admiralty Pier Turret
  The Admiralty Pier Turret or Dover Turret, is an enclosed armoured turret built in 1882 on the western breakwater of Dover Harbour in southeast England. It contains 2 Fraser RML 16 inch 80 ton guns, the biggest installed in the United Kingdom...
  
  
• Archcliffe Fort
• Fort Burgoyne
  Fort Burgoyne
  Fort Burgoyne, originally known as Castle Hill Fort, was built in the 1860s as one of the Palmerston forts around Dover in southeast England. It was built to a polygonal system with detached eastern and western redoubts, to guard the high ground northeast of the strategic port of Dover, just north...
  
  
• Dover Citadel, part of Western Heights
  Dover Western Heights
  The Western Heights of Dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in Britain. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion...
  
   complex
• Citadel Battery, part of Western Heights
  Dover Western Heights
  The Western Heights of Dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in Britain. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion...
  
   complex
• Drop Battery, part of Western Heights
  Dover Western Heights
  The Western Heights of Dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in Britain. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion...
  
   complex
• Drop Redoubt, part of Western Heights
  Dover Western Heights
  The Western Heights of Dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in Britain. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion...
  
   complex
• East Demi Battery, part of the Dover Castle
  Dover Castle
  Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
  
   complex
• Grand Shaft Barracks, part of Western Heights
  Dover Western Heights
  The Western Heights of Dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in Britain. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion...
  
   complex
• Hospital Battery, part of the Dover Castle
  Dover Castle
  Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
  
   complex
• Langdon Battery
• North Centre Bastion, part of Western Heights
  Dover Western Heights
  The Western Heights of Dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in Britain. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion...
  
   complex
• North Centre Detached Bastion, part of Western Heights
  Dover Western Heights
  The Western Heights of Dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in Britain. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion...
  
   complex
• North Entrance, part of Western Heights
  Dover Western Heights
  The Western Heights of Dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in Britain. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion...
  
   complex
• Shotyard Battery, part of the Dover Castle
  Dover Castle
  Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
  
   complex
• Shoulder of Mutton Battery, part of the Dover Castle
  Dover Castle
  Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
  
   complex
• South Front Barracks
• St Martin Barracks, part of Western Heights
  Dover Western Heights
  The Western Heights of Dover are one of the most impressive fortifications in Britain. They comprise a series of forts, strong points and ditches, designed to protect the country from invasion...
  
  complex