The following videos were all produced by David Moore, from Gosport.
David Moore is well-known to many Gosport people as he was a popular Junior school teacher for many years. He is a font of knowledge on many different subjects and has a real passion and detailed knowledge of Victorian fortifications. He has been a Guide for Fort Rowner tours during Heritage Open Days every year.
These videos are of Victorian forts in Gosport or surrounding areas. They are purely scenic and set to music for your relaxed enjoyment. For detailed information about any of the forts shown here, we suggest you look at David’s websites and publications, which are all listed at the end of this page.
CLICK THE IMAGE to view the video
Isle of Wight Forts (09:19)
The Victorian Forts on the Isle of Wight
Fort Brockhurst 2010 (04:34)
A Victorian Land Front Fort at Gosport Hampshire UK
Fort Nelson 2010 (05:55)
A victorian land front fort on Portsdown Hill built to protect the northern approaches to Portsmouth
Fort Rowner 2010 (05:02)
A Victorian land front fort of the Gosport Advanced Line at Gosport, Hants UK
Fort Gilkicker 2010 (05:05)
A Victorian Coast Defence Battery at Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hampshire UK
Fort Rowner 2012 (06:04)
A tour of a Victorian fort of the Gosport Advanced Line
Spitbank Fort 2012 (06:07)
Conversion of one of the Victorian Spithead forts at Portsmouth to a luxury hotel by Clarence
Spithead Forts 2015 (03:59)
A journey around the four Spithead Forts at Portsmouth
Fort Fareham 2016 (05:33)
The largest and last of the great Victorian land forts defending Portsmouth
Spithead 2016 (05:19)
A cruise around the Spithead Forts
Spithead Forts 2016 (04:10)
A cruise around Horse Sand and Spitbank Forts
Websites by David Moore
Historic Gosport https://historicgosport.uk/
Celebrating the History and Heritage of Gosport Buildings, People, Objects and Events
Victorian Forts and Artillery https://www.victorianforts.co.uk/index.htm
A website dedicated to the study of Victorian Forts and Batteries with associated artillery
Fort Gilkicker https://www.fortgilkicker.co.uk/ A unique Victorian coastal defence battery
Publications
FULL list at https://www.victorianforts.co.uk/publications.php
- These booklets are published by David Moore. Copies can be purchased via his website.
- Some titles can also be purchased at the Royal Armouries Artillery Museum Fort Nelson, Gosport Tourist Information Office, Portsmouth City Museum and through The Stokes Bay Society.
- Digital copies can be purchased for the personal use of the purchaser (copyright conditions apply) from here: Solent Papers digital downloads. Note: This uses PayPal.
Solent Papers
No.1 Spitbank and the Spithead Forts by Garry Mitchell & David Moore
No.2 The Needles Defences by Anthony Cantwell
No.3 Fort Nelson and the Portsdown Forts by Garry Mitchell
No.4 Hilsea Lines and Portsbridge by Garry Mitchell
No.5 Fort Gilkicker by David Moore
No.6 Fort Brockhurst and the Gomer-Elson Forts by David Moore
No.7 Fort Fareham by David Moore
No.8 The Stokes Bay Defences by David Moore
No.9 Fort Nelson by Garry Mitchell
No.10 The East Wight Defences by David Moore
No.11 Fort Rowner by David Moore
No.12 Portsmouth Lines and Southsea Defences by David Moore
No.13 Fort Blockhouse and Fort Monckton by David Moore
No.14 Fort Gomer and Fort Elson by David Moore