9 things you might not know about the Solent forts

The fort has made a number of television appearances, including a 2007 edition of Most Haunted. Presented by Yvette Fielding, the ghost-hunting team scoured the fort for their Boxing Day special.

Property developer Harmesh Pooni, who bought the fort in 2004, barricaded himself in March 2008 after being declared bankrupt. The fort had been converted into a hotel but was closed after legionella bacterium was found on the premises.

The fort briefly saw action during the Second World War, and was reportedly hit by a German air raid on August 26, 1940. Eight Royal Marines were killed.

The Fort was commended on the night of January 9, 1941, after supplying a further 1,220 rounds of ammunition to the guns despite being under heavy fire.

In September 2010 about 500 rescue workers from seven countries gathered at the Fort for a two-day disaster exercise in how they would deal with an earthquake.

Former MI6 officer Richard Tomlinson alleged in his 2001 book The Big Breach that the Fort is now the Secret Intelligence Service's (MI6) field operations training centre.

During World War 2 the lake at Lumps Fort was used for experiments to help deal with magnetic mines.

The Fort hosts regular craft fairs, which brings visitors from all over the region, and also has a range of activities including archery, rifle shooting and indoor rock climbing.

Every year, at low tide, there is an organised mass walk from St Helen's beach on the Isle of Wight to the fort and back. This usually takes place in August.