Brean Down Fort was built 60 feet (18 m) above sea level on the headland at Brean Down, 9 miles (14 km) south of Weston-super-Mare in Somerset.
The site has a long history, because of its prominent position. The earliest recorded settlement is from the Early to Middle Bronze Age.
The current buildings were constructed in the 1860s as one of the Palmerston Forts to provide protection to the ports of the Bristol Channel, and was decommissioned in 1901.
On the outbreak of World War II the fort was rearmed with two six inch ex-naval guns and two searchlights as a Coastal artillery battery .
It was also used for experimental weapons testing.
The site has been owned by the National Trust since 2002, following a £431,000 renovation project, as part of its Brean Down property and is open to the public.
@lyndamcg Thanks for your comments - as you have to climb steps up to the down then walk along to the end to get to the fort (this just shows one of the gun housings) if you go make your first visit on a calm & warm day as it can get very cold & wet up there!. On the top one side you can view Brean Sands and the other looks across to Weston Super Mare. The island you see is Steep Holm - reached by boat from Weston.
May 15th, 2017
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
