My Solo Visit to the Fort Nelson, Royal Armouries Poppy Wave

With the Poppies Wave Display ending on June 24th it seemed that the only way that I was going to be able to see it was to go alone.

By taking all of these photos hopefully I have a good record of the display and of my first visit to Fort Nelson & The Royal Armouries Exhibition located there.

The Visitors Brochure & Map of the Fort.

When I was much younger and the ring of Hill Forts of which Fort Nelson is only one were still occupied by troops, we would attempt to climb the ramparts unseen at both Forts Fareham & Wallington. 

In those days the Grass Moats were overgrown with Trees and Scrub Bushes and with one or two of the Gun Openings in the Caponiers available for the bravest to climb in. 

Being underground and in absolute darkness I can see today why it was so dangerous and we would avoid going too far inside. 

To look down on the Parade Ground was the limit of my explorations.

Being on the lower slopes of Portsdown Hill the view across the Harbour it was designed to protect is somewhat limited by the growth of these trees.

Once in the car park I realise that this 1805 Column dedicated to Lord Viscount Nelson is actually on this side of one of the lanes which traverse the hill. I always thought that it was on the opposite corner?

It was always an urban myth, when I was young, that the column is angled so that it faces out to where HMS Victory, Nelsons Flagship, is located in Portsmouth Dockyard. 

However this close up would suggest that Nelson could actually be looking towards Cams Hall in Fareham, where it was also said that he had various 'liaisons' with Lady Hamilton, his mistress, during his visits to Portsmouth???? 

 I remember being given this mental image from those stories told, of Nelson in Full Dress Uniform, Sleeve Tucked into his Jacket, standing proudly at the bow of a 'Whaler' boat while his crew rowed him up Portsmouth Harbour to Cams.

The Visitors Entrance to The Fort is actually through this modern addition, also camouflaged under turn. The entry charge is free with just a £3 charge for using the car park. 

Inside there is a Gift Shop and on normal days there is also a small cafe which I would find had been re located for the duration of the exhibition to provide a much larger facility.

 The Gift Shop

The Normal Cafe Area

Scene Setting Artwork in the cafe

Exiting the entrance on the opposite side I can now see the Gun Exhibits located outside of the fort along the Hill Top Road.

The Giant Mortar

Another angle indicates the Pointed part of the fort visible on the map above. These contained Gun Emplacements which were designed to allow guns to fire across the front of the Fort to defend against approaching adversaries.

Now we cross the original Moat Bridge to where troops would access the fort on foot. A new Glass Door as been added.

Here we can see those Gun Emplacements and a very neatly kept moat. I am not sure if these moats were intended to remain Dry. 

I remember the moat at Fort Fareham always seemed to contain some water and a bog.

An interesting use of Flint and decorative brickwork on this side of the bridge is probably worthy of some investigation on another visit.

At the far end of this moat a group of wild rabbits are seen enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

Exiting the new entrance gallery this magnificent Cannon is one of a pair set either side of the doorway.

To my left is one of the inner moats which can also be seen on the map. So much to explore.

Looking ahead is the Parade Ground and part of the Inner banking. On normal opening days they fire a gun a 1pm. I wonder if this Anti Aircraft Gun ahead is one of those fired?

Guns set out within the Firing Area

Now this is what I am looking for. As I had to forgo lunch at home today to find time for this visit, the café is to be my first stopping off point. 

It is a shame that this is a temporary facility during the exhibition as it is delightful inside.

Not wanting to photo inside this close up crop gives an indication.

Looking across the parade ground I get my first view of the Poppy wave display. 

Another mobile AA Gun lurks alongside the wall.

To access the poppy display we have to limb the ramparts using the original ramp. 

On the way up I notice this covered area containing work in progress among the various pieces of old equipment.

At the top of the ramp we are not only able to get up close to the Poppies but to actually get behind them.

The view across the parade ground towards the café.

The view down the ramp and back towards the entrance corner.

One of the Hill Top Gun Emplacements introduced during WW2.

Looking back over the ramparts the Union Flag is flying happily in the afternoon breeze.

Other rooms set into the hill top which I will get to later.

I am almost at the top.

There is that column again just over the way.

Ah. One of the original cannons sits in its place overlooking the Northern Approaches.

I am close enough to touch the poppies although that is not allowed.

Each Poppy is mounted on a metal rod.

Sad to think that on Monday the display will be removed and sent to the Imperial War Museum in London

Close up, the display is stunning and so deep that there is no view through.

We have to wait to allow others to be photographed. 

Under the Wave

Around the back the structure is mounted on these steel plates with their unusual arrangement of perforations.

Impossible to get a 'peopleless' photo it seems.

It is a busy day here but there is no crowding of the display which means that the wait takes no time at all.

Close up the effect is quite magnificent.

The view from behind the Ramparts

The exit route is down the opposite ramp but I want to see what is further around the top.

From up here I get a good view of the whole Parade Ground and the many Gun Barrels on display.

Another one of the Anti Aircraft Gun Batteries built during WW2

Another Angle 

Some Steps to explore.

These underground store rooms were where the Ammunition was stored for each gun emplacement.

Projectiles, The Bullet Part, Stored pallets on the floor.

A 'Traversing Cannon' able to be aimed across a wider area.

A Gunnery Team depicted in artwork

Another Cannon raised to be able to point down the hillside.

Another Breech Loading Traversing Gun, Set inside one of those two hill top rooms

At the end of the rampart I can see the hill top road over this Access Gate added during WW2

A nice view of Spinnaker Tower, despite the unavoidable pylon.

The other side of that Pointed Part of the building seen over this gateway.

The second room in this hill top building is in fact 'The Blacksmiths Shop 'which seems an odd place to put it?

Another angled view across Portsmouth Harbour.

A mystery piece of rail track warrants an investigation into this large building.

The Poppies Wave, from a different angle.

More Guns on display neat to the temporary café. These will have to wait for another day.

This gun would appear to be from a Naval Ship.

In the heat of battle, a little reminder could be helpful.

Nearing the bottom of the exit ramp.

So this is what is on that piece of railway track.

The massive Railway Howitzer.

Its statistics 

This building contains a fabulous display of Field Guns and Carriages 

Guns of the type that The Royal Navy use for their 'Field Gun Races'

Guns from all eras and campaigns

Even this small American Tank.

In this area conservation work is undertaken. These long tanks each contain a gun barrel immersed in a fluid. 

These appear to have been dredged from a sea or river bed recently.

Along this wall is another display of gun barrels from all ages.

The whole Poppy Wave from across the parade ground. 

I am heading for the opening on the right having seen someone else go in there.

The view up the hill.

Another look at my map tells me that this is the area of the fort which protrudes to the north.

The Mortar Battery area

The Tunnel appears to slope down into the ground quite steeply

The view from half way down the slope.

The tunnel opens out into this series of rooms. The opening is where the Mortar Guns would have been used to lob their projectiles high into the air over the ramparts onto an approaching enemy.

Some of the Rifle Slits for protecting the flanks along the walls

An individual Riflers view through a slit along at ground level 

A Bank of Three Mortars

More firing positions are located along the rooftops in this area

The steps are quite high requiring a effort to get up to the wall top

The Rifleman's view along the Trench

Then I notice this set of steps descending deep into the ground

The brick wall was added later a a safety feature as the stairs spiral downwards quite a long way.

A real set of spiral stairs, not to be taken at a rush.

The Caponier it seems is that Fish Tail area seen on the map above.

The tunnel branches off in two directions left & right from the spiral steps.

This tunnel roof is just as it was cut out of the Chalk Hill.

Inside the Caponier are these massive guns which I assumed have been here since the fort was built.

The view from the nearest gun showing its ability to clear the ditch of any potential attackers. 

These Guns fired Case or Canister Shot consisting of a closed metal cylinder typically filled with round lead or iron balls for maximum effect at clearing troops.

The view along the outer gun. The noise must have been horrendous operating in here.

Looking down the Barrel  

The view on the opposite side is not so clear.

Another of the Slit windows to be used by Rifles 

The Rifle Slits can be seen to the left of this window.

Munitions Store rooms in each corner

In this one can be seen one of the Chimney Holes to allow the Smoke from firing to escape

The notice at the bottom of the Spiral Steps.

From the Lower Caponier there is another very long tunnel leading to light along which is this electric roller conveyor used to bring ammunition down from above.

Along the tunnel is a series of rooms off to the sides. 

In this one can be seen the lighting provided by lamps and a Lighting Passage surrounding each room designed to keep the lamps away from the Gunpowder stored and worked on in these rooms.

 The very narrow lighting passage entrance

 Taken into the lighting passage through a Lamp Hole 1.

  Taken into the lighting passage through a Lamp Hole 2.

Another of the workrooms

A Gunpowder Store

The Lamp Room. Lamps were placed in recesses behind glass to reduce the likelyhood of them igniting any gunpowder in transit.

The Shifting Lobby where the troops changed their clothes.

Could this be where they primed the shell heads with explosive?

Climbing on up the hill there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The tunnel exits near to the south of the Fort into another gully where this narrow rail track is used to bring the munitions, in this truck, ready to be sent down into the Caponier on the roller track. 

This Gully traverses the whole of the building to the south of the Fort and its rooms contain a large part of the Armouries Exhibition.

The Entrance Hall with Fire Buckets and Stairs to the upper level.

The exhibition rooms are just filled with weaponry of all ages.

This Mortar Gun shaped like a Lion 

The Triangular Courtyard at the southern front of the Fort

An extremely ornate but somewhat ugly Cannon with what appears to be two women on the carriage?

Another Visitors Map of the Fort to remind us where we are.

Another ornate Field Gun complete with is Limber Ammunition Carriage.

Field Gun, Cannon Barrel & two Mortar Guns.

A model of HMS Warrior, which can be visited at Portsmouth Dockyard, and one of its Traversing Cannons.

A group of Naval Deck Guns

Field Gun in action, as seen on ceremonial occasions with The Troop of the Household Cavalry 

Difficult to see this cross section of a gun with its explosive charge sitting behind the Shell.

Room after room of exhibition displays to view.

More rooms and tunnels not available to explore.

Around the corner, These seemingly modern conveniences were for the men to use. 

Modern Wash-hand Basin

Being built into the hillside the Arched Roof would give these ceilings extra strength.

Tracks heading for one of the two main gates to the fort. 

An unusual arrangement of steps either side.

These stables suggest that horse drawn carriages were in use within the Fort.

Then I find one of the original toilets

I am always mindful of the many men who may have stood here over the years.

Then I find the Guardroom and one of the Cells with its wooden bed used for those who were naughty.

All along the passage to the cells the walls retain graffiti placed there over the ages. Mostly from the WW2 era.

Someone had the time to be artistic.

More Graffiti 

Around one of the Lamp Recesses.

One wonders why a Red Indian

The Guardroom and officers desk.

The rest of The Guardroom

Do you fancy being Lord Nelson?

A typical Kit Inspection arrangement

The Daily Kit Inspection time.

A Tripod used for lifting heavy items.

Reflections of the crude hospital arrangements including blood stains.

More advance Hospital Bedding

A Suppliers Display of Fuse Mechanisms. 

More Field Guns

A model of another Railway Gun.

Cabinets of The Model Makers Craft.

More Models

The Battleship King George V

Feeding the Troops in rooms which second as Sleeping Accommodation.

The Kitchens

Another view across the Triangle 

Our, you could become Florence Nightingale

More Lamps from the past.

This gallery is a recent addition to display these more recent and larger pieces.

Mobile Anti Aircraft Gun and Searchlight.

A section of a Supergun Barrell as was being built for Sandam Hussain to fire missiles hundreds of miles.

That was until its manufacture was discovered and stopped

Looking up inside the Barrel designed to fire a rocket

A model of the 26 pieces of the gun laid onto a hillside, aimed at the eventual recipient.

Looking down the barrel of another ancient gun barrel.

The Barrel had to be unscrewed  and separated to re load it every time it was fired.

And here it is. An ancient form of Super Gun Barrell.

There is the Exit. My visit is over and I head for home. 

I have enjoyed the visit and missed many of the items due to being in too much of a rush. 

I will certainly be returning and very soon. An Excellent day out.

Protecting Portsmouth Harbour from the hilltop

I do hope that you also enjoyed the visit. A place to put on your Bucket List.