Fort Albert or Cliff End Fort, is located opposite Hurst Castle and help protect the western approaches to Portsmouth Harbour. This coastal defence fort was designed by William Jervois and was originally intended to be four floors with a total of twenty nine guns. Built between 1852 and 1856 is predated the introduction of Rifle Muzzle Loading guns and was thus designed for a mix of 68-pdr and 8-inch Smooth Bore guns. The armament for Fort Albert when built was:
Listing Type : Coastal Fort
Location : England
Ground Floor
Seven 68-pdr Smooth Bore
First Floor
Seven 8-inch SB Howitzers
Second Floor
Seven 8-inch SB Howitzers
Roof
6 X 32-pdr, 2 X 8-inch Howitzer
In 1861 the seven 68-pdrs were removed and replaced by seven 7-inch RBL guns. Consideration was given to replacing the guns on the uppers floor with similar guns, but nothing was done. The six 32-pdr SB on the roof were removed in 1872 and would eventually be replaced with six 12-pdr Q.F. guns in 1889. By 1910 there were only four 12-pdr Q.F. guns designated as A1, A2, B1 and B2.
The lower floors of Fort Albert was all filled with sand to resist rifled artillery fire. The whole complex thus became an artillery tower with guns on the roof of the building.
Between 1886 and 1888 part of the fort was modified to enable a Brennan Torpedo Station to be established here. A slipway was built with torpedo store and engine room. Much of this structure was an extension built abutting the north end of Fort Albert. The four floors of the Fort adjacent to this Torpedo Station were partially filled with sea sand to protect the station from enemy bombardment.