[4] It was designed, along with the other Palmerston Forts atop Portsdown, to protect Portsmouth from attack from the rear.

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.

[5] It was then used by a number of units before housing members of the Royal Corps of Signals and Auxiliary Territorial Service supporting the navy command at Fort Southwick.

In September 2010 the fort was used to host a search and rescue exercise based around a simulated earthquake.

[9] Titled Exercise Orion, the event involved teams from seven countries dealing with 35 scenarios over 2 days.