Museum History

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Nothe Fort Timeline

The history of the Nothe Fort spans over 160 years, from Victorian coastal defence to Local Authority nuclear bunker and now a museum.

1847

Work begins on the Portland breakwater, two walls built onto the seabed which form a safe harbour for merchant ships and the Royal Navy. It takes 22 years to complete. Forts were designed to protect the harbour from attack and French invasion, positioned at The Verne and East Weare on Portland, the end of the Breakwater arms, and at the Nothe.

 

1859

Building of the Nothe Fort begins.

1869

Building work is complete. The Fort is initially left unarmed as there is little threat of attack or invasion.

1872

The fort is armed with 12 muzzle loading coastal defence guns, firing shells of up to 10-Inches in diameter. They are mounted in enclosed gun positions surrounding the Parade Ground called Casemates.

In 1892 seven of the guns are replaced with larger more powerful 12.5-inch muzzle loading guns and the fort magazines are extended.

1903

The 12 muzzle-loading guns are replaced by two 6-inch breech loading guns on the ramparts, which are more accurate had a longer range and faster rate of fire. A third is added in 1908.

1914 - 1918

World War I

The Nothe Fort guns are taken out of service in 1916, as by then there was little risk of an attack from the sea.

The garrison are redeployed to either the Breakwater Fort or volunteered to serve on the Western Front.

1939 - 1945

World War II

Two of the three 6-Inch breach loading guns are returned to service. An anti-aircraft (AA) gun is added on a tower by the gatehouse, with four more heavy AA guns just outside the fort in what is now the carpark.

The fort is a key part of the local defences when a German invasion was feared in 1940 and later in the war protected American forces in the build-up to the D-Day Normandy landings. It is also used as an AA ammunition storage and distribution centre for South-West England.

1956

The use of fixed guns for coastal defence is abandoned. Nothe Fort’s guns are scrapped, and the fort is just used for military storage.

 

1970

The military no longer need the fort. Ownership is transferred to Weymouth and Portland Council, but the fort soon becomes derelict.

 

1980

Weymouth Civic Society volunteers begin restoration, and the Nothe Fort Museum of Coastal Defence opens to the public.

 

1984 - 1990

The Council convert part of the underground magazine area into an emergency Civil Defence Nuclear Bunker.

This is decommissioned in 1990 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

2022

Nothe Forts 150th anniversary. After 84 years of military use the fort has been open as a museum for 42 years, welcoming over 2,000,000 visitors.

It has also hosted many special events and exhibitions such as the 2019 Luke Jerram’s art installation ‘Museum of the Moon’

Glossary

Garrison

Group of troops stationed in a fort.

Rifled muzzle

The inside of the gun barrel has ridges to spin the shell.

Breech loading

Ammunition is inserted into the back of the gun.

Caponier

Meaning chicken coop in French – a gun gallery facing out along the moat to protect the entrance from attack.

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Opening Times

9th Nov 2024 – 15th Dec 2024 

We are open weekends only
11.00am – 3.00pm

16th Dec 2024 – 14th Feb 2025
CLOSED for essential maintenance work

Admission Prices

Adult £9.95
Concession * £8.50
Child 5-16 £4.50
Under 5 Free
Family 2+2 £24.50
Small Family 1+2 £14.50
Groups of 10+  £8.50/person

Find Us

Barrack Road
Weymouth
Dorset
DT4 8UF

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