St Helens Fort

In the civil parish of St Helens.
In the historic county of Hampshire (Modern Authority of Isle of Wight, 1974 county of Isle of Wight).

Between 1539 and 1552, and probably before the French raid of 1545, a fortification was built at St Helens Point for the defence of the landing there. It was perhaps the small earthen fort into which the French were driven after they landed on the Isle of Wight on 21st-July-1545. This event, and perhaps the fort itself, can be seen in Cowdray's picture of the French attack on Portsmouth in 1545. A fort recorded at St. Helens in the Royal Survey of 1559-1560, on the shoreline between the sea mark and Nodes Point. (Somewhere around SZ638899)

This site has been described as a;
Artillery Fort.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Possible.
Nothing visible remains.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SZ637891

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 1394142

• Web site links
  • http://www.btinternet.com/~rob.martin1/fort/home.htm#sth
• Books
  • Colvin, H.M., Ransome, D.R. and Summerson, John, 1982, The history of the King's Works Vol4: 1485-1660 (part 2) (London) p549-50