During the Second World War, Nothe Fort was reactivated as a key part of the coastal and anti‑aircraft defences protecting Weymouth and Portland Harbours – vital hubs for Allied naval operations and later for the build‑up to the D‑Day landings. Two of the fort’s original 6‑inch guns returned to service, and an anti‑aircraft gun tower was added by the gatehouse, with four more heavy AA guns positioned just outside the fort.
The fort’s casemates and underground magazines were converted into an anti‑aircraft ammunition storage and distribution centre for the Southwest, supplying the wider defence network. Searchlight batteries nearby strengthened night‑time coastal defence and helped protect the busy harbour approaches.
Today, visitors can explore these adapted wartime spaces and discover how Nothe Fort contributed to the defence of a region central to one of the most significant military operations of the 20th century.
