a much shorter one running south from No Man's Land Fort towards Ryde Sands) remains as the cost of demolition is deemed too high. A 2020 report stated that during the WW II, "the forts were used to defend the Portsmouth dockyards. Life on site was grim; those serving were deliberately chosen for their inability to swim, to avoid any attempt to escape". In March 2012, the fort was purchased by Clarenco LLP (previously known as Amazing Retreats) (which also owned No Man's Land Fort and Spitbank Fort) and was to be converted into a museum. Clarenco had planned to open Horse Sand Fort for public use in 2016, but as of 2019 Horse Sand, No Man's Land Fort and Spitbank Fort was expected to be put up for auction. An October 2018 report stated that restoration work on Horse Sands Fort was delayed "by the presence of a resident family of peregrine falcons". In 2020, all three Clarenco-owned Forts were listed for sale. A news item stated that Horse Sand Fort was "a blank canvas, with 100 chambers and living quarters, plus the original gun carriage". In October 2021, it was announced that the fort had been sold to an unnamed buyer for £715,000. In popular culture In January 2015, the BBC TV programme Antiques Road Trip included a clip of a visit to the fort. References External links Victorian Forts data sheet Sea forts Sea Forts in the Solent Palmerston Forts Military installations established in 1880 1880 establishments in England