The London Defence Positions were 19th century earthworks in the south-east of England, designed to protect London from foreign invasion landing on the south coast. The 1859 Royal Commission on the Defence of the United Kingdom report on Britain's defences believed that London was practically undefendable; they proposed a fort at Shooters Hill to defend the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, but it was never acted upon. Following a number of proposals by senior military figures based on simple earthworks for infantry and moveable armaments, the London Defence Scheme was announced in Parliament in March 1889. The London Defence Positions were to be earthworks to be thrown up in time of war, but backed up with permanent works which acted as stores and magazines, at 5 mile (8 km) intervals.