Fort Brockhurst, Gosport
Bridge Inspections in a Moat
Fort Brockhurst is one of the five Palmerston ‘Follies’ Forts that were built in Gosport in the middle of the 19thcentury. Completed in 1862 and being immediately obsolete due to changes in artillery technology, it was built to help protect Portsmouth from a French invasion. Until it was decommissioned in 1957 it had various administrative roles within the military but saw no action apart from some minor bomb damage during the Second World War. Although now surrounded by housing and retail parks it is the best preserved of all the five Gosport forts and is under the care of English Heritage.
Perhaps surprisingly for a Victorian era fort it has a moat, a circular keep also moated and a drawbridge. It was the need to get access to the underside of the Victorian iron drawbridges across the moats that lead
English Heritage estates team to ask Rebel Marine if we could help provide access for their survey work.
Due to the nature of the steep sided moat layout, it was decided to mobilise a modular survey pontoon and workboat with electric outboard using our crane trailer. This could unload and deliver the pontoon and boat directly onto the water. The electric outboard was chosen as an eco-friendly alternative given the fauna and flora within the moat and the residential area. The pontoon section could then be pushed under the drawbridge structures using the workboat. The pontoon stretched the entire width and was easily manoeuvred between spans. A safe access down the bank was made using safety lines. With estate surveyor and engineer on board the two outer bridges were surveyed and it was then on to the inner moat and the bridge there.
The crane trailer was reloaded with the pontoon and boat and driven into the inner fort to the moated keep. This time only the workboat was needed and was lowered down by the crane onto the water. Access was by an existing ladder down to the boat. Survey completed our team quickly packed up, just having enough time for a guided tour of the old historic fort before they left.
If you have an unusual project requiring specialist access call Rebel Marine.
