Before the Fort

Around the time of the battle of Hastings in 1066 it is recorded that a small fort occupied castle hill. It it thought that sometime later St Catherine’s Island was established as a place of Christian worship by the creation of a small chapel built on the promontory of the island. Here high above the town perfect solitude could be found. As the tide came in it brought seclusion, the opportunity to communicate with the Creator without interruption.

At some time the ownership passed to the Corporation of Tenby which took possession of a number of crown lands. It is recorded in 1856 that a few sheep inhabited the island an observer described them as “half wild sure footed creatures that run, turn and look, run again and leap from crag to crag almost with the agility of the Alpine Chamois”

The Fort’s Construction

The late eighteen fifties brought considerable fear that the French would invade. Not just in Pembrokeshire but across the whole of the British Empire. Here in Tenby the invasion of the French in Pembroke would still be well remembered. The morning of 22^nd February 1797 had seen 1400 French men put ashore at Carreg West Point. The Legion Noire, from the colour of there uniforms, consisted of 600 Soldiers and 800 convicts. Led by William Tate, a fanatical Irish American with a hatred of Britain, he worked under orders to create a revolutionary spark which could bring down William Pitt and the government. Clearly Short of provisions the French raided farm houses before being faced by Lord Cadaw and his hastily mustered force. Resistance ensued but resulted in quick surrender. Lord Cadaw’s diary records “enabled me on the 27^th. In the morn to march 505 prisoners from H West to Milford.”

1859-1869 The Royal Commission On The Defences Of The Realm was undertaken. in 1866 The protection of Tenby and its importance as a landing site for Milford Haven and the Royal Dock Yard at “Pater” now Pembroke Dock was considered of vital importance. The construction of the Tenby to Pembroke Dock railway was under way and this would give further increased access to the Royal Dockyard. The fort was ordered as a direct result and the island was sold to the War Office for £800. A line of coast forts and/or batteries along the Pembrokeshire coasts was recommended but in the event only St Catherine’s fort was built protecting the main landing and access zone.

Lower Steps, St Catherine’s Fort, Tenby

Mr George Thomas of Orielton Terrace Pembroke secured the contract for the construction of the fort. In 1867 work began clearing the site and constructing the slopes and cranes for the mammoth task of lifting solid granite blocks onto the island and up into position to create the state of the art defence.

Designed for 9 guns and to be garrisoned by one hundred men the fort was completed 1870

By 1886 it held a full armament of

• 3×7 Inch R.M.L.South Casemate
• 3×7 Inch R.M.L.North Casemate
• 3×9 Inch R.M.L.Upper Battery

Originally estimated to cost £16,620 by time of completion the actual cost had risen to £40,000 this final price included the cost of the guns and the iron shields installed in the six casemates.

The fort was Designed by Colonel William Jervois The son of General William Jervois KH. In 1856 Jervois was appointed Inspector General of Fortifications at the War Office and in 1859 he was made secretary to the royal commission on the defences of Britain. It was Considered that the threat of invasion from France was credible and that defensive works should be instructed to repel such. A sum of £7,000,000 was raised to cover the cost of such works. Construction began around the country. This far sighted vision strengthened the fortification of the Empire creating a formidable obstacle for the would be invader.

The construction was overseen by:

• Colonel W, Llewelyn Morgan, Royal Engineers
• Captain Fredrick Clements, Royal Engineers
• Sergeant Gibbs Royal Engineers

It’s Military Use

Conflicting accounts exist of when the fort was garrisoned and who may have served within it. The Army had control of the fort from 1887 -1895. The R.N.R. had control of the fort from 1895 –1907. In 1904 they installed a 5 inch B.L.C. on a Youngman’s compression platform on the south side of the island which was apparently used for training.
There is mention that from 1914 to 1918 the fort was garrisoned.
From 1939 to 1945 different detachments served in the fort including the Royal Marines, The Forth Defence Battery R.A., elements of the Belgium Army, The Home Guard, LAA(R.A.) and an R.A.F. ASR detachment.
In 1939 the army were guests of the Windsor Richards family however, after a row with the family the army compulsory purchased the fort in November 1940.
The fort was released by the military after WWII.

Private Ownership

Around 1907 the fort was bought by the Windsor Richards family who converted it into a house. This included installing parquet flooring in the casemates and lavish decorative features. They also built a 2 bedroom summerhouse at the front of the island. When the house was compulsory purchased in 1940 the internal fittings were auctioned by Harrods and the catalogue still exists.
After WWII the fort was then acquired by a local solicitor who rented the property, and the travel writer Norman Lewis is recorded as staying there in 1947- 1948. The fort was sold to a Tenby businessman in 1962 and in March 1968 the fort was turned into a zoo. the zoo and had two operators before relocating in 1979. The fort has effectively stood empty since this time.