Architecture & DesignIIby

A decommissioned English sea fort is up for auction

An epic adaptive reuse project?

The future owner of this Grade-II listed Bull Sand Fort will need a private boat to reach its secluded spot in the Humber Estuary in northern England.

Originally built during WWI, the floating structure didn’t come into use until WWII – when it protected the approach to the estuary with guns and an anti-submarine net. It also had enough space to garrison 200 men.

Photography: Savills, National Auctions

Bull Sand Fort was decommissioned in 1956 and, as can be seen from its weathered concrete exterior, it needs serious refurb work (for whatever its future adaptive re-use might entail). But there’s plenty of space to work with, including three floors below sea level and a two-storey observation tower.

The mainland is three miles from the apocalyptic military relic, but the fort is somewhat self-sufficient with an artesian well. Bidding starts at £50,000, and Savills is the auctioneer.

Photography: Savills, National Auctions

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