Brean Down

One of five Palmerston forts guarding Bristol Channel. Flat Holm, Steep Holm, Penarth, Barry  Island.

Was built 1865 -72

Military a road built.  If harbour built would have been railway. Guns faced channel, land defended by gun slits and ditch.

Built from limestone from.nearby quarry.

Main building barracks for 50 men.smaller building for Master Gunner and family.

Position for four 7 inch RML on ‘ A ‘ pivots rotated at muzzle and three on ‘C’ pivots , rotated in middle.

Gun number 1 remains with old cannon as pivot.

6 July 1900 Gunner Haynes fired rifie into magazine. Exploding nearly 3 tons ammunition. Suicide.  Half of fort demolished.

Quarry was for fort and harbour. Brean Down Harbour Company formed in 1861. Included raik3ay . Started 1864  1868 work ceased . Failed . Only some shaped blocks and bollards remain.

1910 to 1936 fort was used as Old Fort Picnic Refreshment Rooms in Summer. Barracks became cafe

Refortified in 1941. Two concrete emplacements built.used second hand guns. Barracks became cookhouse and canteen  bolts seen. Range 20 miles.

Soldiers lived in Nissen huts in the old quarry.  Bases can still be seen.The largest one was s training room. A vehicle inspect  put and checkpoint remains exist beside the road.

Above is command cell on two levels. Upper was battle headquarters for 571 Coast Regiment the lower was battery command for Brean Down inside is piller for range finder. It also contained a telephone exchange .

At tip of down are two searchlight buildings .