Lumps Fort

Lumps Fort is a disused fortification on Portsea Island that evolved from its origins during the Napoleonic Wars into a Palmerston-era coastal battery. First documented in 1805 with three 32-pounder guns, the fort was reconstructed between 1859 and 1869 with two 6-inch rifled breech-loader guns. By 1914, it served as a beach defence battery with anti-aircraft armament. Following its demolition at the end of World War I, the borough of Portsmouth created the Southsea Rose Garden on the remaining site, now featuring up to forty varieties of roses and serving as a peaceful public space honoring the fort's military heritage.