Mystery owners fly in supplies to historic Thorne Island fort

Building supplies are being dropped off by helicopter at the unique 10-bedroom Napoleonic fortress, located on an island off the Angle Peninsular.

Built in the 1850s to protect Milford Haven from seaborne attacks from the French, Thorne Island was on the market last November for £550,000.

The Grade II-listed fort is situated a quarter-of-a-mile off the mainland and was designed for a garrison of 100 men.

The historic property was used as a hotel in the 1980s and 90s but has been uninhabited for over ten years, and is now in a state of disrepair.

Businessman James Gardner, who bought the island "on a whim" for £750,000 in 2011, said he was selling because it was now "surplus to requirements".

“It was in a reasonable condition when I bought it and it’s exactly as it was," he said.

“My intention was to use a charter helicopter company to access the island.

"But it needs a helicopter with two engines and there wasn’t a charter company in Pembrokeshire with two.

“It’s a magical place and the scale of it is mindboggling.”

The property has 10 bedrooms, centred on a large courtyard, plus three reception rooms, three bathrooms, a sauna, kitchen and numerous outbuildings.

Access to the property is only by boat, but one of the previous owners obtained planning permission to build a cable car, linking the island to the mainland.

Thorne Island was built from local stone between 1852 and 1854 and was designed for a garrison of 100 men.

It was sold by the state in 1932 for conversion to a hotel and is Grade II* Listed as a well preserved Fort of Lord Palmerston's Haven defences.