Monument MPM1206 - Site of Pickett Hamilton Fort

Original site of a Pickett Hamilton Fort which is now located outside the D-Day Museum. The fort was moved to it's present position in 1984. Built c.1940-1 to defend Portsmouth Airport.

Original site of a Pickett Hamilton Fort built c.1940-1 to defend Portsmouth Airport. The fort was moved to the D-Day Museum in 1984, after being threatened with destruction when the airport site was redeveloped (see MPM1204). This type of fort was specially designed so that it's centre could be left flush with the ground until danger threatened, and then raised by means of compressed air or hydraulic pump to enable the fort's garrison to open fire on the enemy. The idea behind the design of a 'disappearing pillbox' was that it could be constructed on and around airfield runways and would not present a hazard to friendly aircraft. [1]

There were originally three forts positioned at the north-east, south-west, and south-east corners of the airport site. The fort to the south-east was destroyed during redevelopment work at the site in 1982 (see MPM1205). The fort to the north-east is the only one that remains in it's original position, and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (see MPM208).

<1> Portsmouth Museum Service, 1980s, Portsmouth Museum Service Military History Collection Correspondance File (Unpublished document). SPM179.