Scheduled MonumentsEnglandFort Cumberland

Fort Cumberland

England
List entry 1015700
Nation
England
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

Overview

History & significance

Fort Cumberland is a late eighteenth-century coastal defence fortification situated at Southsea in Hampshire. Constructed between 1860 and 1868, the fort was built as part of the Victorian programme to strengthen Britain's coastal defences against potential invasion, particularly from France. The structure comprises a substantial brick and masonry pentagon-shaped fort with extensive casemented gun emplacements designed to mount heavy artillery covering the approaches to Portsmouth Harbour. The fort represents a significant example of mid-Victorian military engineering and remains substantially intact as a testament to nineteenth-century fortification design and strategy.

Fort Cumberland is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1015700. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Fort Cumberland?

Fort Cumberland is a late eighteenth-century coastal defence fortification situated at Southsea in Hampshire. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1015700.

Who is responsible for protecting Fort Cumberland?

Fort Cumberland is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1015700.

What other scheduled monuments are near Fort Cumberland?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Eastney sewage pumping station (0.8 km), Eastney forts and perimeter defences of barracks (1.5 km), World War II Heavy Anti-aircraft gunsite (P2) at Sinah Common, 570m south east of Sinah Farm (1.8 km).

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