Nettlestone point

Has been described as a Possible Artillery Fort

There are no visible remains

NameNettlestone point
Alternative NamesNettlesheigh fort
Historic CountryHampshire and the Isle of Wight
Modern AuthorityIsle of Wight
1974 AuthorityIsle of Wight
Civil ParishNettlestone and Seaview

A fortification was built at St Helens some time between 1539 and 1552. Its cost and design are unknown, but it may have been the small earthen fort in which the French took refuge on 21 July 1545. It was possibly situated at Nettlestone point (SZ 629917), where an 'old fort' is marked on John Haywood's map prefaced to Worsley, History of the Isle of Wight, 1781 but Horestone Point (SZ 634907) or Node's Point (SZ 638900) seem more likely sites. (HKW)

The tradition of a fort at Nettlestone Point, now the town of Sea View, dating from the reign of Henry VIII is echoed in local building names of the former "Old Fort House" and the present "Old Fort" public house. (PastScape)

The Nettlestone fort is clearly marked on a map of c. 1570, commissioned by Lord Burghley. It is believed to have been made by John Rudd, a vicar who also became a skilled cartographer (BL Royal MS. 18. D.III, f.18). The fort is circular in shape and seems to be made up of curved sections, suggesting the masonry of a small, round stone tower. This may be seen as a smaller version of round, stone artillery platforms such as the Round Tower at Portsmouth or Cromwell's Castle, Tresco. It may even be in the tradition of a locally built stone tower, such as Worsley's Tower (Rob Martin 2006)

Gatehouse Comments

May be the site of the petit fort ... avoyent quelque artillerie mentioned in an account of a raid on the island by the French in 1545. There is a strong local tradition that the Sea View Yacht Club building is built on the walls of a large round tower (larger than Martin seems to suggest). These walls are of irregular shaped stones only in general courses quite unlike surviving Henrician forts which all have regular squared stones in regular courses. On the current balance of evidence Gatehouse does not believe these walls to be those of a 16th century building of any form.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSZ629917
Latitude50.7215309143066
Longitude-1.11029005050659
Eastings462900
Northings91700
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Colvin, H.M., Ransome, D.R. and Summerson, John, 1982, The history of the King's Works, Vol. 4: 1485-1660 (part 2) (London) p. 549-50
  • Worsley, Richard, 1781, The History of the Isle of Wight (A. Hamilton) (map by John Haywood) online copy (a useless scan)

Primary Sources

  • Petitot, M. (ed), 1821, 'Les Mémoires de Messire Martin Du Bellay' Collection Complète des Mémoires Relatifs à l'Histoire de France (Paris) Tome 19 p. 569- online copy
  • c. 1548, The Encampment of the English forces near Portsmouth, Together with a view of the English and French fleets at commencement of the action between them on the XIXth  July MDXLV (Cowdray picture) For a discussion of this picture see Dominic Fontana, The Cowdray engravings and the loss of the Mary Rose