Listed Building record MDO6676 - Post medieval to early modern coastal battery, Nothe Fort, Nothe Point, Weymouth

A fort, built between 1859-62, with a demi lune ten gun casemated work. It was converted during the 1890s to infantry barracks and was used intermittently through the first half of the 20th century but closed in 1956. It was restored and opened to the public from 1980. The site of this post medieval to early modern coastal battery is visible on aerial photographs of Weymouth.

The Nothe Fort was built in 1859-62 by the Royal Engineers to guard the northern side of Portland Harbour. It was constructed as a ten gun casemented work, iron shielded, with two light guns on the land flank and is a large demi lune of Portland stone with massive battered walls. Inside is a semi circular courtyard with single storey inner range abutting the ramparts, and the magazines are below ground with the other offices. In the 1890s with the improvement in other works the fort became redundant as a defensive work and was converted to use as an infantry barrack. restoration scheme is proposed by the borough council. Scheduling includes stone ramp (a on plan) and search-light (c on plan). <1> <3>

Circa 1870. Large demi-lune Portland stone fort with massive battered walls. In style it is related to the Palmerston forts of the 1860s at Gosport and Portsmouth. The semi-circular end overlooks Portland harbour. The straight side faces west and is screened by a massive earth rampart with a narrow round headed tunnel arch leading into the ditch and to the main gate set in rusticated low archway. Massive stone revetment with heavily machicolated gun post over entrance, rolled coping and parapet. Inside is a semi-circular courtyard with single inner range abutting the ramparts with heavily rusticated semi-circular voussoir archways. Brick tunnel vaulted casements and magazines below ground. <4>

Additional historical information. When Coastal Artillery was abolished in 1956 the fort was closed and subject to vandalism. It was opened to the public in 1980 after conservation efforts by the Weymouth Civic Society. <5>

Nothe Fort was converted to use as infantry barracks during the 1890s and was used intermittently through the first half of the 20th century. It was manned from 1914 t o1916 and from 1929 to 1956. A number of additions were made during World War II. These include an anti aircraft emplacement of 1939 and the conversion of the underground magazines and classmates on the south side to a store for anti aircraft ammunition. A searchlight battery was built on the foreshore north east of the fort during World War II and another was constructed on the north side of the fort in 1946. New searchlights were added in 1947 and new radar equipment was installed in 1953. <6>

The site of this post medieval coastal battery is visible on aerial photographs of Weymouth <7-8>. It was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).

Gun Port 9 was blocked with Portland Stone ashlar, probably in the period 1905-14 when three new 6-inch guns were installed on the rampart. <10>

Bellamy, P S, 2021, Nothe Fort, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset: Archaeological Observations and Recording during Drainage Works on the North Terrace, January 2021 (Unpublished document). SDO16966.

<1> Hogg, Ian V, 1974, Coast defences of England and Wales, 1856-1956, p229-30 (Monograph). SWX1958.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 edition OS map (Map). SWX1540.

NOTHE FORT [NR]

<3> DOE, 1978, Scheduled Monument Notification HBMC Rec. Form 5.2.78 (Scheduling record). SWX1838.

<4> Department of the Environment, 14 June 1974, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Borough of Weymouth and Portland 1974, pg 102 (Scheduling record). SWX1839.

<5> Saunders, A, 1983, Old Wardour Castle, p70-71 (Article in serial). SWX1840.

<6> DCMS, 2001, Scheduled Monument Notification EH Scheduling amendment, 07-NOV-2001 (Scheduling record). SWX1841.

<7> Royal Air Force, 30-AUG-1947, RAF/CPE/UK/2273 5156-57 (Aerial Photograph). SDO13085.

<8> Channel Coastal Observatory, 15-OCT-2010, CCO Aerial Photographic Coverage 2009 (Aerial Photograph). SDO12622.

<9> Architecton, 2003, Nothe Fort. A Feasibility Study for the Weymouth Civic Society (Unpublished document). SDO11625.

<10> Bellamy, P, 2019, Nothe Fort, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset. Archaeological Observations and Recording during Alterations to the North Terrace Earthworks, March 2019 (Unpublished document). SDO16426.

Gun Port 9 had been blocked with Portland Stone ashlar before earthwork construction.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 451654 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 13 2024 11:00AM