Fort Brockhurst was designed by William Crossman in the 19th century to protect Portsmouth. With its formidable firepower, its main purpose was to guard the approach from potential landing areas on the south Hampshire coast. Although modern life has encroached on the fort, its fabric remains largely unaltered and the parade ground, gun ramps and moated keep can all be viewed. Constructional details of the casemates are able to be seen due to unrepaired second world war bomb damage at the North-East corner. The site is occasionally open to the public, under the auspices of English Heritage.