Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Thorne Island Fort
Angle, Pembrokeshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Defence
- Date of designation
- 26 January 1996
- Locality
- Thorne Island
- Community
- Angle
- Unitary authority
- Pembrokeshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.69177, -5.11733
- Cadw reference
- 17169
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
Off N headland of West Angle Bay.
History
Commenced in 1852 and completed in 1854, Thorne Island fort was intended as an outer defence to Milford Haven in conjunction with Dale Point. It was designed for a garrison of 100 men. Its battery initially consisted of 9 ML guns. The fort was purchased at auction in 1932 for conversion to a hotel and after one change of ownership it it still a hotel.
Exterior
The battery occupies the highest ground at the W, behind a low papapet. To the rear is a parade ground about 5 m below the level of the battery, surrounded to the N, E and S by vaulted single-storey barracks and ancillary buildings. Water reservoirs beneath the parade ground for 30,000 gallons. The N range consisted of a cookhouse and officers' quarters. The E range consisted of other ranks' barracks, but with the entrance to the fort and guardroom at the centre. The guardroom occupied a small bastion. More officers' quarters in the S range. At the W of the S range was an armoury, protected by a solid half-round bastion built out from the exterior wall. These barracks ranges have fine brickwork groin vaulting.
The barracks ranges are flat roofed with access to an E and S facing parapet with apertures for small arms fire. A bridge gives access over a gap between the S and E ranges.
Limestone ashlar masonry generally with emphasised quoins. Large shallow string course of squared section at base of parapet. [Exterior windows not original.] Entrance at E with voussoir-arch including projecting keystone. Lettering on the arch. Side pilaster at entrance, with simple cornice. Reinforced outer entrance doors approx. 12 cm thick, running on floor-track. Inner entrance doors missing, also ran on floor-track.
Hammer-faced ashlar to front of barracks ranges facing the parade ground. Large shallow squared cornice with quarter-round moulding beneath. Six-pane sash windows. Granite staircases up to battery.
Reason for designation
Listed as a well-preserved fort of Palmerston's Haven defences.
Nearby in the register
- West Angle Bay Early Medieval SettlementCemeteryunder 1 mi
- Remains of East Blockhouse N of Rat IslandBlockhouseunder 1 mi
- Chapel Bay FortFortunder 1 mi
- Chapel Bay FortDefenceunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.