Palmerston Forts Society - Fort Nelson, Fareham, Hampshire 15th Lancashire AV at Perch Rock Battery Merseyside Fort Gilkicker Sept 2023 Mike Atthis 7inch RBL Fort Nelson Scraesdon Fort Plymouth Inside the Admiralty Pier Turret Dover two 16inch RML 80tons The building of Fort Nelson 1860s Hilsea Lines road entrance under construction The Royal Marine Artillery firing 6. 3inch RML Howitzers at Fort Cumberland Hurst Castle East Wing Battery before the damage 9inch Rifled Muzzle Loader Enter the members websiteFind us on Facebook Or Instagram Welcome The Palmerston Forts Society was formed in 1984 and brings together enthusiasts who have an active interest in nineteenth century military fortifications and associated artillery worldwide but particularly within Hampshire and is focussed on the ring of forts that protected Portsmouth. The Society is based at Fort Nelson Fareham in one of the Great Portsdown Forts built during the 1860s to defend Portsdown Hill from occupation by an invading army. Had an enemy been positioned on the hill then Portsmouth harbour and dockyard would have been vulnerable to artillery fire.