'Delight' as historic naval fort sells for £121k

A rare 19th Century military sea fort has been sold for £121,000, more than 142% above its guide price, according to an auction house.

Fort Darnet, on the River Medway near Hoo in Kent, is listed as a scheduled monument and had an initial estimate of £50,000.

A spokesperson for Savills said they were "delighted" the building had secured its "future custodian" following the auction on Tuesday.

"This success highlights the growing appetite for historic landmarks," they added.

The firm said Fort Darnet drew "strong competition" among buyers and its result was a "fantastic outcome" for their client.

Jeremy Lamb, director at Savills auction team, previously told the BBC the fort had been under the same ownership for 40 years and much of the original structure remained.

Fort Darnet was built from 1870 to 1872 for Naval Sea Defence and designed to create a "bottle neck" to defend the river.

It was constructed on the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Defence with the aim of providing an inner line of resistance for the naval dockyard at Chatham.

According to the auction house, the fort was designed to hold a garrison of 100 men and used for gunnery practice.

Before World War One it was decommissioned but used as an observation post in World War Two, with platforms and pillboxes built on top.

Savills said the the fort was "still in fair condition", however the magazine level was flooded.

The island is only accessible by boat and was used for picnicking and leisure up until the 1980s, added Savills.

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