Forts · South West England
The Verne Citadel
In or near Fortuneswell.
The Verne Citadel is a fort in the United Kingdom.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 45 min–1.5 h
- Nearest railway station
- Weymouth · 6.2 km
About
The Verne Citadel is a historic fort or fortified site in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1857. Coordinates: 50.5620°, -2.4345°.
Photo gallery
Official information
The Verne Citadel is a historic site that has been integrated into the Historic Environment Record. It serves as a research record for Historic England, providing insights into its historical significance.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Isle of Portland SSSI
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Verne Citadel is a 19th-century citadel on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. Located on the highest point of Portland, Verne Hill, it sits in a commanding position overlooking Portland Harbour, which it was built to defend. In 1949, it became HM Prison The Verne.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The citadel was built between 1857 and 1881, as Portland Harbour's main fortification. Naturally inaccessible from the north and east, the south and west sides were protected by the digging of a large ditch. Both East Weare Battery and East Weare Camp, located below the eastern side of the Verne, were considered part of the citadel's outworks. The citadel was designed with open gun emplacements on the north, east and west sides. After the war, the last military use of the fort was by the Royal Engineers. The centre was transformed back into a prison in 2017–18.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 50.5620, -2.4345
- District
- Dorset
- Parish
- Portland
- Postcode
- DT5 1EG
- Parliamentary constituency
- South Dorset
- Established
- 1857
- Nearest railway station
- Weymouth — 6.2 km
- Official site
- www.pastscape.org.uk
Sources
- osm: w22925382 (ODbL)
- wikipedia: Verne Citadel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Portland, entrance to Verne prison - geograph.org.uk - 1093955.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
The Verne
Mountains & hills · 0.3 km
Bridge At Sy 6923 7333
Historic bridges · 0.4 km
Bridge At Sy 6924 7330
Historic bridges · 0.4 km
Royal Navy Cemetery
Cemeteries · 0.4 km
Bridge At Sy 6926 7326
Historic bridges · 0.4 km
Verne Redoubt
Natural landmarks · 0.4 km
Bridge At Sy 6923 7324
Historic bridges · 0.4 km
Verne High Angle Battery
Natural landmarks · 0.5 km
Verne High Angle Battery
Archaeological sites · 0.5 km
Fortuneswell
Towns & cities · 0.5 km
Queen Anne House, Portland
Gardens · 0.6 km
Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
Historic houses · 0.6 km
Nearby
📷 5Mountains & hills · South West England
The Verne
The Verne — a hill or mountain in england south east.
📷 5Historic bridges · South West England
Bridge At Sy 6923 7333
Bridge At Sy 6923 7333 — Grade II listed building-listed bridge in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic bridges · South West England
Bridge At Sy 6924 7330
Bridge At Sy 6924 7330 — Grade II listed building-listed bridge in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
📷 5Cemeteries · South West England
Royal Navy Cemetery
Royal Navy Cemetery is a cemetery in the United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic bridges · South West England
Bridge At Sy 6926 7326
Bridge At Sy 6926 7326 — Grade II listed building-listed bridge in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
📷 5Natural landmarks · South West England
Verne Redoubt
Verne Redoubt — a other in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near The Verne Citadel
Places to stay
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Sweet Hill Farm
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📷 5Caravan parks · South West England
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Places to eat & drink
📷 7Historic pubs · South West England
Royal Portland Arms
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The Cove House Inn
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The George Inn
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📷 5
📷 5Historic pubs · South West England
The Sailors Return Public House
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is The Verne Citadel?
- The Verne Citadel is in South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode DT5 1EG), in the parish of Portland.
- What is The Verne Citadel?
- The Verne Citadel is a fort in the United Kingdom.
- How do I get to The Verne Citadel?
- The nearest railway station is Weymouth, about 6.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode DT5 1EG.
- When was The Verne Citadel built?
- Built or established in 1857.
- Is The Verne Citadel a protected site?
- Yes — The Verne Citadel is part of the Isle of Portland SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- How do I get to The Verne Citadel?
- The nearest railway station is Weymouth, about 6.2 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode DT5 1EG.