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Built as a result of the 1859 Royal Commission to prevent the enemy bombarding Portsmouth dockyard only 8000 yards away, because the older Hilsea lines at the bottom of the ridge were considered insufficient. A series of 5 forts were planned along the 7 miles of the ridge. From west to east they are forts Fareham, Wallington, Nelson, Southwick, Widley. The line was finished off at the eastern end with Crookhorn Redobut and Farlington Redoubt.
Fort Fareham is now a small industrial estate.
Fort Wallington has been largely demolished to make way for an industrial estate.
Fort Nelson has been extensively restored as an artillery museum run by the Royal ArmouriesThe Royal Armouries houses the British national collection of arms and armour. The collection spreads across three sites: The Royal Armouries Museum, HM Tower of London and Fort Nelson, Portsmouth. The Museum The museum, located in Leeds, West Yorkshire,.
Fort Southwick was for many years an Admiralty Research Establishment, sold in 2003 for housing.
Fort Widley is owned by Portsmouth council, hosting a stable and various community rooms. Tours run on summer weekends.
Fort Purbrook is open occasionally for craft fairs.
Guarding Fort Purbrook, the Crookhorn redoubt suffered from subsidence, and was demolished by 1876. The Farlington redoubt had only the ditches and gun positions dug, and was finally demolished in the 1970's. The tunnel between Crookhorn and Purbrook has recently been rediscovered.