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Fort in Portsmouth, UK

Fort Widley is one of the forts built on top of Portsdown Hill between 1860 and 1868 on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom.

Fort Widley was a polygonal Fort designed by William Crossman, an officer of the Royal Engineers, who was part of the staff of the Inspector General of Fortifications at the War Office. The fort was built up from chalk, with red brick and local flint being used for buildings and revetment to the large dry ditch which was also dug at the same time. Armament was fitted into three different categories the main armament which was mounted on a semi circular rampart, high angle armament provided by 13 inch mortars, mounted in two protected mortar batteries and close range armament, mounted in one full and two demi caponiers. Barracks accommodation was also provided for both officers and other ranks.

Even before they were completed questions arose over the effectiveness of the forts in the face of improving weapons technology By the 1890s the fort was fitted with five RML 6.6 inch howitzers, ten RBL 7 inch Armstrong guns, two RML 8 inch howitzers and nine RBL 40 pounder Armstrong guns on carriages that could be moved to wherever they were needed.

During the Victorian period Fort Widley and the other Portsdown Forts were used to accommodate various infantry units in the barracks. For example, in 1875 the 30th Regiment of foot were quartered there. By 1886 the South Lancashire Regiment was stationed there. In First World War it was used as a transit depot. During the Second World War it was modified to provide more accommodation. In 1990 the Fort was taken into use as an activity centre for the Peter Ashley charity, providing a number of activities, including an equestrian centre. In September 2010 the fort was used to host a search and rescue exercise based around a simulated earthquake. Both the Fort and a gun in front of it have been designated Listed Buildings, at Grades II* and II respectively. In 2018, the fort was used as a setting for the Hollywood film The Last Vermeer. Today the Fort is home to an equestrian centre run by Peter Ashley Activity Centres.