This article needs additional citations for
verification. (March 2016) |
Henley Fort | |
---|---|
![]() The view across Guildford from Henley Fort | |
General information | |
Address | Henley Fort Outdoor Education Centre, The Mount, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4RH |
Country | United Kingdom |
Coordinates | 51°13′50″N 0°35′49″W / 51.230509°N 0.5968996°W |
Owner | Surrey Outdoor Learning & Development |
Website | |
Henley Fort |
Henley Fort is a Victorian fort near Guildford, Surrey, at the eastern end of the 'Hog's Back' ridge.
Henley Fort was built as a mobilisation centre [1] during the 1880-90s as part of the London Defence Positions. Its purpose was to protect the capital from the French army. [2] Initially, construction was rapid due to the invasion threat, but slowed as that threat passed.[ citation needed]
It is the most westerly fort of a 17-mile chain that would have formed a secondary line of defence between the South coast and London. [2] It was never used as a fort in the conventional sense, [3] having neither the men or the munitions to garrison it, and was instead used to train volunteers and as a monthly meeting place for the volunteers who manned it. [4]
Ammunition was also created on site,[ citation needed] and the fort was constructed using chalk in order to prevent gunpowder from detonating in the event of the fort being bombed.[ citation needed]
During the Second World War, Henley Fort was used for defence purposes by the Home Guard.
In the 1950s it was used as a camp for local schools. [5] Each school could attend for two weeks each year for walks around Surrey.
Today the fort is an educational centre run by Surrey Outdoor Learning & Development, [6] and as such hosts groups of all types wanting an outdoor learning experience.