From Palmerston to PLUTO: The History of Sandown's Granite Fort

Monday, 23 August 2021 15:28

During the mid-19th Century, Sandown's Granite Fort was built by Lord Palmerston's Government to protect the bay against a French invasion that never came.

Join The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in Sandown on Thursday (August 26th) for a very special evening of local history with Island historian, author and broadcaster Tim Wander who will be telling the real story behind the sanctuary's home, Sandown's Granite Fort.

The doors will open an hour before the talk begins so you can have a very quiet, personal walk around the sanctuary and enjoy a complimentary hot drink and slice of cake at a gentle pace.

Tim is a captivating speaker with a rich knowledge of Isle of Wight military history, and he will host a guided tour around the Granite Fort together with a fascinating talk about this very special site.

The story begins in the mid-19th Century, when Sandown’s Granite Fort was built by Lord Palmerston’s Government to protect the bay against a French invasion that never came. The many forts across the Island soon became known as Palmerston's Folly. But Tim will tell you that the forts had other vital purposes. The story will continue through to the Granite Fort’s near destruction in the 1930s, and of course its vital role as a pumping station in one of the Second World War's most audacious engineering projects, the Pipe Line Under The Ocean – PLUTO.

Tim’s talent for story-telling will bring history to life and shine a light on Sandown’s story that many will be unaware of. Did you know Sandown even had its own Nazi spy, local landlady Mrs Dorothy O’Grady!

In 1940, when Britain stood alone, our little town on the bay would play a vital role in the conflict. When the invasion came, the bay would have become a brutal battlefield, and the defences that were deployed across the beach and bay are in themselves an incredible story. Winston Churchill’s famous speech: “We will fight them on the beaches” would have been very close to home.

The Sanctuary will open its doors at 5pm, so you can see the rescued animals before a prompt 6pm start to the talk in the Wildheart Café, before a leisurely guided tour of the site.

The price is £14 with all proceeds supporting the Wildheart Trust with a complimentary tea, coffee or selected soft drink, plus a slice of delicious cake.

Numbers are limited so book your place in advance, at wildheartanimalsanctuary.org/whats-on/2021/frompalmerston-to-pluto.

From Palmerston to PLUTO: The History of Sandown's Granite Fort

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