The History of the Fort

Construction

The construction of the Nothe Fort was begun in 1860 by a civilian contractor who soon ran out of money.  The job was then given to 26 Company of the Royal Engineers, forerunners of 26 Armoured Assault Squadron.  Some fifty sappers completed the task, using a myriad of great twelve-inch-square oak scaffold poles carrying steam gantries and cranes.  The original intention was to build an open battery of five 64-pounder guns but a threat developed from the old enemy, the French, who had laid down the world's first purpose built ironclad warship, La Gloire and built a new naval base at Cherbourg.  So the plan was revised to provide a fortress mounting seventeen heavy guns in two tiers.  At an early stage in the construction it was decided that twelve of the big new rifled guns would suffice and the basement gunports were filled in and earth embanked up to them.  

The Fort was completed and commissioned in 1872 at a final cost of £120,000.  Meanwhile, progress was being made on the construction of the southern arms of the Breakwater, the Verne Citadel and the Breakwater Fort, all of which were completed by 1875.