Fort Paull

About

Fort Paull, perched on the north bank of the Humber near the village of Paull, is the only fully intact Napoleonic‑era fortress in northern England. The pentagonal battery, built between 1861 and 1864 on the recommendation of the Royal Commission, once hosted a battery of 64‑pounder and later 6‑inch artillery guns. Today, the site welcomes visitors with a rich collection of military exhibits, underground tunnels and tunnels that once served as a degaussing station during the Second World War. After closing in 1960 and turning into a training base, the fort was reopened to the public as a museum in 2000, providing a living window into Britain’s coastal defence strategy and the wider history of the Napoleonic Wars. The fort also houses the only surviving Blackburn Beverley heavy transport aircraft, a testament to post‑war aviation heritage. Visitors can explore the original gun emplacements, a historical 7‑inch gun, and the fort’s revealing underground areas where soldiers once trained and stored supplies. The museum frequently hosts special events, such as classic car weekends and community celebrations, to bring history to life for families and history enthusiasts alike. Although the Museum of Army Transport’s contents were auctioned in 2020, Fort Paull remained a key heritage site and, after a period of renovation, reopened for the 2024 season, with plans to resume regular events and exhibitions in the future.