Fort Gilkicker

The Stokes Bay Lines

In the 1840s and 50s the possibility of a French landing at Stokes Bay caused some concern and three batteries were built along the bay to counter this, two at Browndown Point and one at Gilkicker Point. All three were simple earth ramparts with little to protect them from direct assault.

In 1857 Major Jervois proposed a complex system of moats (ditches), ramparts and batteries to close off the gap between the new fort at Gomer and the earlier fort at Gilkicker, Fort Monckton. This defensive moat was to become the ‘Stokes Bay Lines’.

Map of the Stokes Bay Lines 1938

The Hampshire Telegraph in November 1858 was delighted to report to its readers that the proposals to fortify Stokes Bay had commenced:

We are enabled this week to lay before the public a short description of the entirely new line of defence in Stokes Bay, which will connect the forts at the east and west ends of the shore by means of a continuous rampart to be constructed of earth, and extending from the inundation at Fort Monckton to Fort Gomer. The works have been already commenced, and are to be carried out with the utmost despatch. In front of the rampart for musketry fire there will be a broad and wet ditch formed while at the rear of the line four or five strong batteries mounting cannon of the heaviest calibre will be erected. These, assisted by the fort to the left of Gilkicker and the batteries at Browndown, will form an effectual protection of by far the greater portion of the Solent, and particularly so as it is understood that Gomer (and we have little doubt the fort at the other extreme of the line) is to be among the first that will be armed with the celebrated Armstrong gun. Those of our readers who are acquainted with the locality will at once recognise in these works a system of defence which, from the disposition of the flanking forts and those at the rear of the new works, will form a most powerful concentration. By this plan, too, one of the most open parts of our coast (the utter defencelessness of which has of late been so much animadverted upon) will be rendered secure against the probability of invasion. It is also said, - but we give the report publicity with due reservation - that it has been determined that a number of small casemated earth batteries shall be built, extending from Blockhouse Fort to the rampart at the easternmost extreme of Fort Monckton.

The new Armstrong Gun: 7-inch R.B.L.

The Times on January 19th 1860 described the proposal thus:

Portsmouth and its Defences
On the sea face, from Fort Monckton, a plateau rises abruptly from the low ground beneath to a height averaging about 18 feet, and extending to Lord Ashburton's marine residence at the end of this position of the line near Fort Gomer. On this plateau stands Anglesea-terrace, Alver Cliff, the residence of Mr. Bingham, the well-known London police magistrate, Alver Bank, the late residence of his Royal Highness Prince Alfred, while studying on board Her Majesty's ship Britannia, and the beautiful marine residence of Lord Ashburton, to which we have already referred. The whole of these, with the exception of Anglesea-terrace, will be pulled down to make room for the forts, &o., about to be erected; and on this plateau will be concentrated the main strength of this part of the position. Commencing from the eastern end, there will be there formed a strong battery of 11 guns, firing over all, and sweeping the ground in front, the line of railway, and the rear of the auxiliary batteries on the right flank of Fort Monckton. In the rear of this latter work is a quantity of swamp through which a wide trench has been dug, and in connexion with this trench along the low ground at the foot of the plateau on which the chief forts will be erected runs a wide deep trench and rampart at an obtuse angle, the apex inclined inward towards the centre of Anglesea-terrace, and the western arm extending to opposite Alver Cliff. In the centre, or gorge of this work, runs out an immense work of rampart and moat, which, to describe plainly, may be called tho two sides of a triangle with the apex cut off; this will be joined to the main line by drawbridges, &CEO., and the intended Stokes Bay Railway will pass over its eastern parapet. On the main line, In the rear and centre of this work, will be erected a smaller work, with guns sweeping its interior and the line of moats in all directions. At Alver Cliff, moat and rampart form a sharp angle for sufficient distance to mount a battery of guns to sweep the continuance of that moat and the ground in front, while in the rear of this will be erected one of the heavy forts (mounting about 30 guns), which, as we have before stated, will form the really defensive works of the position. The line continues its course to Alver Bank, and thence to its extreme western point, opposite Fort Gomer, where it will end in a strong casemated square work, surrounded by ditch and morass, and under the guns of Fort Gomer. The works at Alverbank Will be of a most extensive character, including an entrance to the country inside the works by a public roadway from the new road to be formed outside the line of works; rolling wooden drawbridges over the moats, and a culvert for the admission and retention of water &co, In the rear of this, on the elevated ground or plateau, will be erected another of the large forts, and at the extreme rear of the line a battery, or redan, mounting 11 guns, similar to the one at the eastern extremity. In advance of and on the right of the whole line are to be two auxiliary batteries of 21 8-inch guns (the Browndown batteries) The line of defences from this point form a right angle from Fort Gomer, with Its 32 pieces of the heaviest calibre, to Fort Elson, at Frater Lake, on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour, and comprising five detached forts, thereafter to be connected by ditch and parapet, Forts Gomer, Grange, Rowner, Brockhurst, and Elson; tho first and last named completed, and tho other three in course of construction. Standing on the parapet at Fort Elson we see on the opposite or eastern side of Portsmouth Harbour the works at Elson, the point whence we started, and have visited the entire cordon of defensive fortifications already In existence, and those now in course of construction at an enormous expense, for the protection of Portsmouth Harbour, its shipping, dockyard, and arsenal. Extensive as they are, and will be when completed, we are still told by military men that the plan must remain incomplete, and Portsmouth harbour still vulnerable to the attacks of a powerful and enterprising enemy, until the two sea forts on the Noman and Dean shoals are built and armed, and Portsdown Hill regularly fortified.

(the spelling of Anglesea for Anglesey is original)

Stokes Bay Lines on Flashearth

As constructed, the Stokes Bay Lines ran from the rear of the Browndown Batteries in the west, to the glacis of Fort Monckton in the east and consisted of a ditch with rampart and five flanking batteries of various traces. At the western end, No.2 Battery consisted of a sea facing rampart with four casemated guns to fire westwards across the gap between the Browndown Batteries and Fort Gomer. Three more casemated guns fired eastwards along the first branch of the ditch running towards No.3 Battery. No.1 Battery was at the rear of No.2 straddling the only coast road to Browndown army camp and Lee-on-the Solent. It also covered the rear of a dam constructed to flood the Gomer marshes in time of attack by closing off the River Alver. A tunnel connected No.1 battery to the parade of No.2 Battery via a bridge across the ditch. No.3 Battery mounted three guns to fire westwards along the section of moat towards No.2 Battery. At No.3 Battery the ditch and rampart turned south towards the sea for a short section and at this point the Stokes Bay road crossed the ditch over a drawbridge. The ditch continued eastward to the end of Anglesey Road and then on to the lake at Gilkicker. This section of ditch was flanked by No.4 Battery. No.5 Battery was to the north of this section of ditch and the east end of The Crescent and mounted nine guns facing seawards.

The River Alver was diverted into the ditch system at No.1 battery and flowed out of the ditch to the sea at various sluices along its length and from another at Gilkicker Lake, thus maintaining a constant water level in the ditch. Another section of ditch and rampart ran southwards from No.4 Battery and branched east and then north to rejoin the main ditch west of No.5 Battery. This secured the open ground in front of No.5 Battery and the railway line to Stokes Bay pier. A small section of ditch continued from the north end of Gilkicker Lake along the rear of Fort Monckton towards Haslar sea wall. Once this ditch and rampart was complete the peninsula of Gosport was effectively secured against attack from the west thereby protecting Portsmouth with its harbour and dockyard. The Gosport Advanced Line forts (Forts Gomer, Grange, Rowner, Brockhurst and Elson) stretching from the Stokes Bay Lines in the south to Portsmouth Harbour at Elson in the north threw out the line a defence from the old Gosport town ramparts to a distance that was envisaged as being suitable for the range of guns as they were currently constructed. However changes in the range of armament rapidly increased and soon the Gosport Advanced Lines were considered to be too close to afford the required defence capability. An outer line of three forts was considered but abandoned on the grounds of cost, and only fort of this outer line was constructed at Fareham. This was the last of the great land forts to be constructed at Portsmouth

Plan of No.1 and 2 Batteries as built.

No.1 Battery was first armed with eight 8-inch Smooth Bore guns. In 1886 it was proposed to replace these with two 7-inch R.B.L. guns. Ammunition was provided by two expense magazines, one a shell store for 153 rounds and the other a cartridge store holding 47 barrels. In 1891 the cartridge store held 288 rounds and the shell store 170 shells. Its revetments, embrasures and parapets were formed of concrete, a unique feature for an 1860s open battery.

No.2 Battery was completely encircled by its wet ditch. Access was over a bridge. It was first armed with 8-inch S.B. guns firing along the ditch towards No.3 Battery and in the west facing casemates which fired in the rear of the Browndown Batteries. Two 68pr S.B. guns were to be mounted on its sea facing emplacements which were approached by a long gun ramp. By 1886 the smooth bore guns had been replaced with twelve 7-inch R.B.L. guns whilst the main sea facing armament had been replaced with two 7-inch RMLs on dwarf mountings. The battery had magazine accommodation in the form of two shell stores and six cartridge stores. In 1891 cartridge stores 1 and 2 held 462 rounds each whilst numbers 5 and 6 held 192 rounds each. Stores 3 and 4 had been removed. Shell store 1 held 390 rounds and shell store 2 held 500 rounds.

In 1890 it was decided to remove the No.10 gun, the centre gun of three on the left flank (the east facing casemates), and substitute the two remaining guns with Maxim machine guns on embrasure mountings to fire along the ditch. The two sea facing 7-inch RML emplacements were rebuilt to take two Moncrieff disappearing carriages. In 1901 the Moncrieff carriages were removed and two emplacements for 6-inch B.L. guns were added on top of the Moncrieff pits, which were filled but left in place. Beneath the emplacements were constructed shell and cartridge stores. The shells and cartridges were raised to the gun emplacements on shell and cartridge lifts. Three of the west facing casemates were converted to mount Maxim machine guns on cone mounts, others served as ammunition stores and war shelters whilst the one at the north end was converted for use as a married quarter. Plans show that the three east facing casemates held two Maxim machine guns on cone mounts, the north embrasure being blocked. A Battery Command Post with a range finding pillar was built on top of the battery between the two gun emplacements with a telephone room beneath. A depression range finder was added on top of the east facing casemates which also had an 25ft long infantry parapet approached by a long earth ramp four feet wide. A Sling Waggon Shed and Artillery General Store were built on the parade near to the east casemates.


A view along the old course of the moat towards No.2 Battery	A view along the old course of the moat towards No.3 Battery	One of the remaining outfalls south of Alver House constructed by the Royal Engineers to control the water level in the Stokes Bay Moat	On the bridge leading to Alverbank House is this datum point bearing the inscription 15.56ft above LMS Level. It is similar to one on an expense magazine at No.5 Battery, indicating that the bridge was built at the same time as the Stokes Bay Lines.

The Stokes Bay moat was supplied with water from the River Alver at No.2 Battery. When the sluice west of No.2 Battery was closed the water from the Alver would flow into the moat. To keep the water in the Stokes Bay moat at a constant level three culverts were built. Culvert No.1 was at the west side of No.2 Battery, culvert no.2 next to the road to Alver House and culvert no.3 was east of No.3 Battery where Village Road joined Stokes Bay Road. Each was operated by a penstock on the inner face of the rampart behind the moat, which opened a sluice on the inner bank of the moat allowing water to flow from the moat into the sea. Another sluice opposite No.5 Battery and a final sluice at the east end of Gilkicker Lake completed the system. The outfall to number 2 culvert can be seen at low water.

Plan of No.3 Battery as built.

No.3 Battery was first armed with four 8-inch SB guns. By 1886 these had been replaced with four 7-inch RBL guns, two firing along the ditch towards No.2 Battery and two firing along the glacis in front of the ditch. In 1890 it was decided to remove the No.1 gun because it was too close to the No.2 gun for safe working and the magazine accommodation was insufficient. Two magazines were provided, one a cartridge store for 288 cartridges (original capacity 42 barrels) the other a shell store for 153 shells.

Plan of No.4 Battery as built.

No.4 Battery was first armed with four 8-inch SB guns. These were mounted in pairs to fire down each branch of the ditch. By 1886 these had been replaced with four 7-inch RBL guns. In 1890 it was decided to replace the 7-inch RBLs with four machine guns on parapet mountings. Two magazines were provided one for cartridges holding 44 barrels (later 448 cartridges) and one shell store holding 420 shells.

Plan of No.5 Battery as built.

Plan of No.5 Battery in 1892 with the proposed mortar battery in front.

No.5 Battery was first armed with 68pr and 8-inch smooth bore guns. In 1872 it was proposed to replace them with nine 7-inch R.B.L. guns. By 1886 these had been reduced to four. The battery had four expense stores, two for cartridges each with a capacity for 41 barrels of powder, later 288 cartridges each, one a shell store holding 153 shells and one an artillery store for side arms to operate the guns. In 1886 it was proposed to fit six 13-inch mortars on a platform in front of No.5 Battery. The platform is shown on a plan of 1892 but the armament was never fitted and the earthwork was then removed.


Stokes Bay Moat: Looking East from No.2 Battery.	Another postcard view of Stokes Bay with the moat and pier	Stokes Bay Moat: Looking East from No.2 Battery 1935.

The Batteries today

The northern half of No.1 Battery was demolished in the 1930s. The tunnel through the rampart of the battery to No.2 battery is still visible as are parts of the concrete revetments south of the road to Browndown Hutments. The battery lies within the mobile home park and is not accessible to casual visitors. The tunnel is used for private storage.

Remains of No.1 Battery


The tunnel from No.1 Battery	Royal Engineer's Benchmark

No.2 Battery is the best preserved. Gosport Borough Council purchased the Battery in 1932 from the Home Office for £1,500. In 1933 the Council approved the use of the site as a caravan park. In 1939 the Council moved their records from the town hall to the Battery for safe storage. During World War Two the battery was requisitioned for military use and after the war it was retained. In 1947 it was being used by the Special Armament Development Establishment (S.A.D.E.) based in Fort Gomer. They use the surrounding roads to test drive tanks and amphibious units and had a tank park at the west end of Stokes Bay. In 1950 the Battery was in use by the 7th Royal Tank Regiment Amphibious Wing. In 1950 some land at Stokes Bay was released by the military. Gosport Borough Council agreed with the military that the demolition of No.2 Battery and the removal of earth and hardcore could be carried out after 1951. The military released it in November 1951. It was altered in the 1980s to become Gosport Council’s Nuclear bunker. It was opened as a D-Day interpretation centre in 1994. The upper emplacements are fenced off and are inaccessible but can be viewed from outside the fence. The concrete pits for the Moncrieff carriages can still be seen beneath the later 6-inch B.L. emplacements. It is a grade II listed building.


No.2 Battery: East facing gun ports.	No.2 Battery: East 6-inch gun emplacement looking along Stokes Bay towards No.3 Battery.	No.2 Battery: West facing gun casemates.	No.2 Battery: Interior of the East facing gun casemates.

No.2 Battery: Battery Command Post with telephone Room beneath.	No.2 Battery: West 6-inch B.L. gun emplacement looking towards Browndown Battery	No.2 Battery: West ditch	No.2 Battery: Basement shell store for east 6-inch B.L. gun.

No.2 Battery: The west moat in 2008	No.2 Battery: The interior looking south in 2008	No.2 Battery: The west casemates in 2008	The Depression Range Finding pedestal on top of No.2 Battery
			No.2 Battery East facing gun ports with 6-inch B.L. emplacement to the left. The middle gun port has recently been replaced by a door.
			No.2 Battery Sea Facing Battery for two 6-inch B.L. guns built on top of the earlier emplacements for two Moncrieff disappearing RML guns.
			No.2 Battery Sea Facing Battery for two 6-inch B.L. guns built on top of the earlier emplacements for two Moncrieff disappearing RML guns.
			No.2 Battery. The lower left concrete is the earlier Moncrieff emplacement. The right emplacement for the 6-inch B.L. is built on top of the earlier right Moncrieff emplacement. Between the emplacements is the Battery Command Post

The site of No.3 Battery is inside a garden. Nothing of the battery remains although there are some hints of the battery in the form of a bank of earth and some garden structures comprised of brick arches.

The site of No.4 Battery is recognisable but most features have been destroyed. The site is occupied by a stable and paddock for horses. The ditch has been filled and no trace of the gun emplacements or magazines remain.

Looking east along the course of the filled in moat towards the site of No.4 Battery

No.5 Battery is relatively intact inside the R.N. Physiological Laboratory grounds. The rampart and the four expense magazines survive, one for shells, two for cartridges and one an artillery store. The gun positions have all been removed by modern development although the racers for at least one gun position have been found beneath the later infill. A section of the rampart with the south west salient has been destroyed by a road driven through the rampart. The artillery store to the rear of the battery survived into modern times until demolished to make way for a car park and temporary foot bridge over the road.

Looking east towards the site of No.5 Battery

The Stokes Bay moat was filled in stages from the 1950s, because of problems with stagnant water, rubbish and mosquitoes, the section from No.2 Battery to Alverbank being filled first in 1951/52 so that the Stokes Bay Road and promenade could be widened.

The last section to be filled was that from No.3 Battery as far as number 4 Battery.

It is possible that the section surrounding No.5 Battery was filled with the rubble resulting from the flattening of the School of Electric Lighting. Beneath the infill the Stokes Bay Moat lies with its concrete lining intact.

Aerial views on Bing

Stokes Bay Defences

Aerial views on Flash Earth

e-mail :