Abandoned fortress of the 19th century became a place for parties (7 photos)

A former software company owner has spent five years transforming a Napoleonic fort into a party island. Mike Connor bought the 19th-century fortress in 2017 for £555,000.





It was originally built in the 1850s as a 100-man fort designed to protect the port of Milford Haven from attacks from the sea.

In 1947, it was converted into a hotel and rented out for events. In 1999 it was sold, and by 2001 it had become the property of the Von Essen hotel group.



A Briton has embarked on a major renovation project, turning the fortified structure into a party-goer's paradise. The fort is located on Thorne Island, off the coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales.

Under its previous owner, it had hosted stag and hen parties, weddings and birthdays. However, the structure had been empty for 17 years.

Mike spent about a year getting the property habitable. A forty-bed, four-bathroom fortress with a nightclub is back on the market for £3 million.







The businessman said that when he bought the fort, there was no electricity or water. The renovation project cost a huge amount of money. It cost £200,000 just to install flush toilets. The equipment was delivered to the island by helicopter, which significantly increased the costs.

The crews lived in an abandoned fort for two weeks and had no opportunity to take a shower. The workers charged their phones from a generator and were forced to wash in the sea.



In honor of Mike's 50th birthday, the island held its own festival, the highlight of which was a tightrope walker's performance above the courtyard.



The owner believes the island has huge potential as a tourist attraction or rave venue. The fort can hold up to 800 people.

Mike said: "This could be a great investment for Wales. It's important that it's profitable, creates jobs and grows."