"Pembrokeshire Thorn Island with Napoleonic fort is sold" the Headline of a report by BBC News on 2nd November 2011 & continued with "An island off the Pembrokeshire coast that boasts a 19th Century fort built to fight off the French has been sold." The whole report is shown at the end of the listing.
The Victorian/Napoleonic St Catherin's Fort is overlooked by a Medieval Castle built by the Normans (French) in 1188. Located on the Mainland, above Thorn Island (AKA St Catherine's Island).
The Castle/Fort’s Construction:
"The late eighteen fifties brought considerable fear that the French would invade. Not just in Pembrokeshire but across the whole of the British Empire. Here in Tenby the invasion of the French in Pembroke would still be well remembered. The morning of 22nd February 1797 had seen 1400 French men put ashore at Carreg West Point. The Legion Noire, from the colour of there uniforms, consisted of 600 Soldiers and 800 convicts. Led by William Tate, a fanatical Irish American with a hatred of Britain, he worked under orders to create a revolutionary spark which could bring down William Pitt and the government. Clearly Short of provisions the French raided farm houses before being faced by Lord Cadaw and his hastily mustered force. Resistance ensued but resulted in quick surrender. Lord Cadaw’s diary records “enabled me on the 27th. In the morn to march 505 prisoners from H West to Milford.”
1859-1869 The Royal Commission On The Defences Of The Realm was undertaken. in 1866 The protection of Tenby and its importance as a landing site for Milford Haven and the Royal Dock Yard at “Pater” now Pembroke Dock was considered of vital importance. The construction of the Tenby to Pembroke Dock railway was under way and this would give further increased access to the Royal Dockyard. The fort was ordered as a direct result and the island was sold to the War Office for £800. A line of coast forts and/or batteries along the Pembrokeshire coasts was recommended but in the event only St Catherine’s fort was built protecting the main landing and access zone.
Mr George Thomas of Orielton Terrace Pembroke secured the contract for the construction of the fort. In 1867 work began clearing the site and constructing the slopes and cranes for the mammoth task of lifting solid granite blocks onto the island and up into position to create the state of the art defence.
Designed for 8 guns and to be garrisoned by one hundred men the fort was completed 1870
The fort was Designed by Colonel William Jervois The son of General William Jervois KH. In 1856 Jervois was appointed Inspector General of Fortifications at the War Office and in 1859 he was made secretary to the royal commission on the defences of Britain. It was Considered that the threat of invasion from France was credible and that defensive works should be instructed to repel such. A sum of £7,000,000 was raised to cover the cost of such works. Construction began around the country. This far sighted vision strengthened the fortification of the Empire creating a formidable obstacle for the would be invader.
It’s Military Use:
Conflicting accounts exist of when the fort was garrisoned and who may have served within it. The Army had control of the fort from 1887 -1895. The R.N.R. had control of the fort from 1895 –1907. In 1904 they installed a 5 inch B.L.C. on a Youngman’s compression platform on the south side of the island which was apparently used for training.
There is mention that from 1914 to 1918 the fort was garrisoned.
From 1939 to 1945 different detachments served in the fort including the Royal Marines, The Forth Defence Battery R.A., elements of the Belgium Army, The Home Guard, LAA(R.A.) and an R.A.F. ASR detachment.
In 1939 the army were guests of the Windsor Richards family however, after a row with the family the army compulsory purchased the fort in November 1940.
The fort was released by the military after WWII.
Private Ownership:
Around 1907 the fort was bought by the Windsor Richards family who converted it into a house. This included installing parquet flooring in the casemates and lavish decorative features. They also built a 2 bedroom summerhouse at the front of the island. When the house was compulsory purchased in 1940 the internal fittings were auctioned by Harrods and the catalogue still exists.
After WWII the fort was then acquired by a local solicitor who rented the property, and the travel writer Norman Lewis is recorded as staying there in 1947- 1948. The fort was sold to a Tenby
businessman in 1962 and in March 1968 the fort was turned into a zoo. the zoo and had two operators before relocating in 1979. The fort has effectively stood empty since this time." Text Source: (
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Report from BBC News:
"Thorn Island near Milford Haven has been sold to a company which owns other historical sites including Chislehurst Caves in Kent.
The guide price was £750,000 but it is believed to have been sold for significantly less.
The new owner, Kent Mushrooms, is said to want to "explore the possibilities of future commercial use".
The island, which is in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, was put on the market after its previous owner, the von Essen hotel chain, went into administration.
Von Essen had drawn up plans to upgrade the Grade II-listed fort into a five-star retreat with a cable car link to the mainland.
Christie and Co, acting on behalf of the administrators, said there were 12 bids for the two-acre site.
Sea defences
Director Simon Stevens said: "Thorn Island is an amazing retreat that attracted strong interest from domestic buyers with several offers also received from overseas investors.
"The eventual buyer completed the deal within eight days of agreeing terms."
The Napoleonic fort, originally built as one of three sea defences to protect Pembroke Dock from the French, was a hotel in the 1980s and 90s.
It has been unoccupied for over 10 years since it was last sold.
The area is popular with divers, who investigate the wrecks near the island.
The ship Loch Shiel, which was carrying thousands of cases of whisky, ran into rocks off the island in the late 19th Century." Text Source: (
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