A VICTORIAN fort that was built to protect the area from a French attack has sold at auction for over £1.3m.
Fort Gilkicker in Gosport has been largely neglected for many years - and has been a problem spot for anti-social behaviour.
But on July 28 the fort sold for £1,386,000 - £114,000 less than the guide price of £1.5m.
The sale of the Grade II-listed building will now see the historical site transform into 26 homes.
Rob Marchant, auctioneer, said: “The fort is situated at Stokes Bay in Gosport and is a magnificent relic of the Victorian era, built between 1863 and 1871.
“There was a great deal of interest in the fort from potential buyers, several of whom toured the site.
“Permission has been granted to convert the fort into an exclusive estate of 26 homes.
READ MORE: Victorian fort in Hampshire goes up for sale at auction with £1.5m guide price
“There would be 22 in the former gun emplacements and four really big apartments in the barrack block.
“Changes would include removing the earth wall put up before the First World War, to open up some stunning views across the Solent.”
The fort is a semi-circular ark that was designed to protect the deep water anchorage at Spithead.
It was built with 22 casemates – large rooms from which guns could be fired - with five bigger guns mounted on the roof.
Since the world wars it has been used as a plumbers' workshop, signalling station, and storage units.
It was council-owned between 1986 and 1999 but has remained largely untouched since then.
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