Monument MPM208 - Pickett Hamilton Fort, Hilsea

Pickett-Hamilton Fort, 'disappearing pill-box', specially designed for the defence of airfields during the Second World War. Three Pickett-Hamilton Forts were built to defend Portsmouth airfield. This is the only one still in it's original location.

Pickett-Hamilton Fort (retractable pillbox) built c.1940-41 to defend Portsmouth Airport. 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 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. (2) This fort is a rare surviving example of an original design where a counterweight block was used to raise the pillbox, rather than a hydraulic pump. It would have been operated by a four-man crew. (3)

There were originally two additional forts positioned at the south-west and south-east corners of the airport site. The fort to the south-east was destroyed during works at the airport site in 1982. The fort to the south-west was removed from it's original position to it's current location outside the D-Day, Southsea in 1984. (2)

The site was cleared and the interior of the fort excavated and recorded during 1979-1981. (3)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The idea behind the Pickett-Hamilton fort was that of surprise. Designed to be manned by two gunners (although in pre-hydraulic operation it took four men four seconds to raise the fort to its operating position), the whole affair was lowered into the ground and accessed by the drain-like hatch in the roof. It would be raised in the event of an attack, - or so the theory goes. In reality, manning such a device would have been near impossible when flying ops were "on", as the two or three forts planned for aerodrome installation would disrupt the aircraft in action. (1)?

<1> Portsmouth City Council, n/a, Portsmouth City SMR Cards, SU60SE36 (Index). SPM1.

<2> Portsmouth Museum Service, 1980s, Portsmouth Museum Service Military History Collection Correspondance File (Unpublished document). SPM179.

<3> Cobb, Peter, 2014, A Pickett-Hamilton Fort Excavated (Bibliographic reference). SPM180.