Priddy's Hard Boats
by Terri Waters
Title
Priddy's Hard Boats
Artist
Terri Waters
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
A black and white image of Portsdown hill from Priddy's Hard in Gosport.
Priddy's Hard in Gosport is opposite Portsmouth's Royal Naval Dockyard and tucked in under the Portsdown Hills which are home to the Portsdown Forts.
The forts on Portsdown Hill were built as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission, as part of a series of fortifications built to defend Portsmouth and its dockyard (which is 8 kilometres away) from a possible attack from inland, as the development of rifled gun barrels made it possible for an invading army to land elsewhere, circle around to the top of the hill and bombard the city from there. A series of 6 forts were planned along the 10 km (6.2 mi) of the ridge. From west to east they are forts Fareham, Wallington, Nelson, Southwick, Widley and Purbrook. The line was finished off at the eastern end with Crookhorn Redoubt and Farlington Redoubt. The main threat was perceived to be from Napoleon III of France, but this receded soon after the forts' completion. Due to this they became known as "Palmerston's Folly" but, though never needed for their original purpose, were useful anti-aircraft gun emplacements during World War II.
Priddy's Hard became the oldest of several depots making up the complex of the Royal Naval Armament Depot (RNAD) Gosport, latterly retitled Defence Munitions Gosport.
Uploaded
April 29th, 2013
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