Fort Widley Haunted
Established now for over 20 years as the Peter Ashley Activity Centres, Fort Widley Equestrian Centre is an ABRS/BHS approved riding, training and exam
History of fort widley
It was feared that the French would invade the southern coast of England in the 19th Century.
The Prime Minister at the time was, Lord Henry Palmerston, He called for a review of the defences of Portsmouth.
Fort Widley was part of "Palmerston's Folly" a civil defence across Portsdown Hill built in 1861 to defend the city from sea and also land attack.
The Victorian fort has had numerous reported sightings of ghosts over its 140-year history many investigations have been held here and alot of strange things have been reported, its a very scary place to be at night.
The enormous structure is surrounded by a dry moat with mortar batteries in case anyone tried to enter the moat. These are accessed from tunnels deep underneath the parade ground.
There was enough accommodation inside this fort for 250 men and there were 12 married quarters as well.
The six sided building was completed in 1870 and cost £93,980 in total.
Fort Widley was one of six forts, built at great expense, but by the time they were finished the threat of a French invasion was over.
It was disarmed in 1907 but remained in military hands being used as a barracks for the Royal Artillery until 1939
During World War II Fort Widley was used for planning rooms and as the Royal Engineers' Bomb Disposal Unit.
In 1942 it was used to house prisoners of war and from 1943 it was an alternative control centre for Southwick House (HMS Dryad)
Then on 19 February 1952, the Civil Defence Committee of Portsmouth Borough Council proposed the construction was needed for the borough to be used in the event of a nuclear attack; it was decided this should be established at Fort Widley.
It continued to perform this function until the end of the Cold War and the Portsmouth District Council Emergency Centre, as it was by then known, finally closed in 1992.
the ghosts spirits of Fort Widley
It is the Underground Chambers that seem to have the most paranormal unexplained activity and many people are very wary walking these chambers alone especially at night. Alot of strange sightings have been reported here.
A strange shadow figure was once spotted at the oppersite end of the tunnel, looking back at the ghost hunters, when they were all aware no one should be down there. They said it was a bright colour and was not like any orb they had ever seen before..
A Ghostly resident that many persume could be here is a Sergeant Major who enjoys whistling and haunting this fort. And seems to make people who visit very uncomfortable.
The keep of this fort is another area where there have been many reports of ghostly footsteps and bangings that are often heard. These noises that people are hearing are said to be a former prisoner, or even possibly a prison guard.
It is said a young boy haunts the tunnels of fort widley that run deep beneath the fort. Many people thing this boy was a drummer boy and was being chased along the parade ground by a officer, having been disobedient, and fell to his death down the spiral staircase.
Alot of footsteps have been heard coming through the tunnels and, apparently, this boy likes to play games aswell with people walking the tunnels. Or maybe he's trying to get a message across to us?
Ghost hunters have detected a very dominant male spirit and say they feel a sense of foreboding when he approaches. He has been sighted walking with a lantern and peering over people as a 7ft (2.13m) tall dark shadow.
A female spirit is said to be the wife of one of the married couples that resided at the fort or one of the prostitutes that came up to the fort to cater for the male occupants.
Story has it that this female was murdered there and her tormented spirit is always trying to flee her evil aggressor which could be another reason why so many people report footsteps. It is also said that this female spirit looks after the spirits of the children found within the tunnels
This is a place we would love to investigate one day ourselves in pure darkness.
please tell us your comments or anything you have witnessed at fort widley.
You are viewing the text version of this site.
To view the full version please install the Adobe Flash Player and ensure your web browser has JavaScript enabled.
Need help? check the requirements page.
Comments