• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Chandler's Ford Today

  • Home
  • About
    • About Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research
  • Blog
    • Blogging Tips
  • Event
    • Upcoming Events
  • Community
    • Groups
    • Churches
    • Schools
    • GP Surgeries
    • Leisure
    • Library
    • Charities
      • Eastleigh Basics Bank
      • Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler’s Ford
    • Fair Trade
      • Traidcraft stalls in Chandler’s Ford
    • Chandler’s Ford Parish Council
  • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Site Policies
  • Site Archive
    • Site Archive 2018
    • Site Archive 2017
    • Site Archive 2016
    • Site Archive 2015
You are here: Home / History / Days Out – Fort Nelson

Days Out – Fort Nelson

May 29, 2018 By chippy minton 2 Comments

Where can you see a dolphin near Portsmouth?

Well, I suppose “looking out to sea” is a possibility, but Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill is more likely.  The handles on a cannon barrel are also called dolphins – because of their resemblance to swimming dolphins arching out of the water.

Cannon Dolphin With Ring

Cannon dolphins
Dolphins – but not the swimming variety – at Fort Nelson

There are lots of cannon and other big guns to see at Fort Nelson which, as well as being as being a former defence against a feared Napoleonic invasion, is also the home of the Royal Armouries artillery collection.  It’s well worth a visit.

Canon at Fort Nelson

Cannon at Fort Nelson

 

Intracate art work on cannon

World War 2 Anti Aircraft gun at Fort Nelson

Artillery at Fort Nelson

Artillery at Fort Nelson

But this isn’t all.  Much of the Victorian fort is intact and you can walk around the 19 acre site to see the gun emplacements, through the tunnels and ammunition stores, and across the parade ground.  Interestingly, the guns point inland, which at first seems to be a perverse way to defend the naval port at Portsmouth.  The explanation is that the entrance to the harbour was so narrow and well defended it was believed that any invasion would land further along the coast and attack from behind, hence the gun direction.

Replica gun emplacement at Fort Nelson
Gun emplacement at Fort Nelson – but pointing out to land not out to sea!

In the caponier, cannon that were originally positioned to scupper attempts to cross the moat now look over picturesque green lawns.

Moat at Fort Nelson

Cannon pointing to the moat

I’m sure it’s only coincidence that they are now aimed at the rabbits.

Rabbit at Fort Nelson

The fort is a magnificent structure, built with 12 million bricks – and probably several hundred tons of concrete too.

Walls at Fort Nelson

Some of the 12 million bricks used to construct Fort Nelson
Some of the 12 million bricks used to construct Fort Nelson

Inside the galleries there are displays of guns from many countries and era; an insight to the domestic life of the barracks, and an idea of what it might have been like to be a Victorian soldier.  For younger visitors there are dressing-up opportunities and for not-so-young visitors an interactive display of how the fort was constructed.  I particularly liked the enlarged picture of the construction site, complete with large magnifying glass to see minute detail.

How the Officers Mess at Fort Nelson might have looked
How the Officers Mess at Fort Nelson might have looked

The video of a modern-day reconstruction of a cannon is worth watching – the slow-motion replay of its firing shows just how much smoke, heat and fire is ejected from the barrel along with the cannonball.

It may be a bit of a cliche to say that there is something there for everyone, but at Fort Nelson there really is.  I’ve proved this in recent weeks by taking both elderly and teenagers on a visit.  Both ages had a great time.

The museum is open daily, 10.00am to 5.00pm . Admission is free, but there is a £3 charge for parking.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google
  • Email

Related posts:

Tags: days out, history, local history, World War One, World War Two

About chippy minton

I've lived in Chandler's Ford and Eastleigh for most of my working life, with interspersed with a few years in north-west Hampshire (though remaining a regular visitor to the area).

I work in IT, and my hobbies include bell ringing, walking and cycling. I am also a self-confessed “born-again runner” having discovered parkrun in 2015.

I enjoy live theatre and music, and try to watch many of the shows that are performed in the Eastleigh area.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. chippy minton says

    May 31, 2018 at 8:52 pm

    As an added bonus, visit before 24 June to see Poppies Wave at its last touring location before going on permanent display at the Imperial War Museum, Manchester.

    Reply
  2. Allison Symes says

    June 1, 2018 at 8:24 am

    Fort Nelson is a great place to visit, Chippy. Used to go there when my son was younger as my parents lived reasonably close by. Great day out. Wonderful views across to Portsmouth too.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to Chandler's Ford Today blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Top Posts & Pages

999, 111, 101, 112? Emergency Numbers You Must Know
101 Things to Put into Room 101
July Gardening Tips by Wellie
101 Things to Put into Room 101 - Part 7 - The Final Leg
Home
St George's Day Glide
Cat & Kitten Rescue in Chandler's Ford
New 0300 Phone Numbers for Hampshire County Council
First Aider and First Responder
Peculiar British House Numbering System

Categories

Tags

arts and crafts books Chandler's Ford Chandler's Ford Today Chandler’s Ford community charity Christianity Christmas church community creative writing culture Eastleigh Eastleigh Borough Council education entertainment event family fundraising gardening gardening tips good neighbours Hiltingbury Hiltingbury Road history hobby how-to interview Joan Adamson Joan Adelaide Goater local businesses local interest memory Methodist Church music nature news reading review social storytelling theatre travel Winchester Road writing

Recent Comments

  • Zorba on Smart Phone – No thank you
  • Christine Lassam on July Gardening Tips by Wellie
  • Allison Symes on St George’s Day Glide
  • Gopi on St George’s Day Glide
  • Marny on St George’s Day Glide
  • Allison Symes on Verbs and Verbosity in Fiction

Regular Writers and Contributors

Janet Williams Allison Symes Mike Sedgwick Rick Goater Doug Clews chippy minton Martin Napier Roger White Andy Vining Gopi Chandroth Nicola Slade Wellie Roger Clark Ray Fishman Hazel Bateman SO53 News

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal by Joan Adelaide Goater

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

Growing up in Chandler’s Ford: 1950s – 1960s by Martin Napier

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

My Memories of the War Years in Chandler’s Ford 1939 – 1945 by Doug Clews

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

Chandler’s Ford War Memorial Research by Margaret Doores

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

History of Hiltonbury Farmhouse by Andy Vining

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

My Family History in Chandler’s Ford and Hursley by Roger White

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Do You Remember The Hutments? By Nick John

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

Memory of Peter Green by Wendy Green

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

History of Vickers Armstrongs (Supermarine) Hursley Park by Dave Key

Reviews of local performances and places

Reviews of local performances and places

Copyright © 2022 Chandler's Ford Today. WordPress. Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.