Fort Cumberland (England)

Fort Cumberland was built to guard the entrance to Langstone Harbour, east of the naval port of Portsmouth on the south coast of England. Only the guardhouse and storehouse of the original 1747 earthwork fort survive. The second fort, largely intact, was build between 1785 and 1812 to a 5 pointed bastioned trace with a ravelin guarding the entrance. Originally armed with smooth bore guns mounted both in casemates and on barbette, it acquired 64 pounder (29 kg) RMLs in the 1860s and RBLs in the 1890s with new magazine systems. In the 20th century the fort has been used as a training centre for the Royal Marine Artillery, but is now used by English Heritage as a site for all their laboratory staff. Currently access is limited to guided tours a couple of times a year.