Perched alone in the choppy waters off Wales’ Pembrokeshire coast, a Victorian-era fort that once braced for French warships is now looking for a new commander, with an asking price of about $4 million.
Thorne Island, a 2.49-acre private outcrop three nautical miles from the mainland, has gone on the market complete with a restored 19th-century fort, helipad, rooftop bar, and sweeping sea views. The Grade II-listed fortress, built between 1852 and 1854 to guard the Milford Haven Waterway, was originally designed to house 100 soldiers during a feared Napoleonic invasion.
Today, its thick granite walls enclose five plush bedrooms, grand dining halls, and terraces sheltered from Atlantic winds. The property, listed by Strutt & Parker, is reachable only by boat or helicopter.
British tech entrepreneur Mike Conner bought the island in 2017 for £500,000 ($670,000) after spotting it in a YouTube video. Back then, the fort was a derelict shell, waterlogged, windowless, and without basic utilities.
Restoration process
Restoration became a four-year mission. Builders lived in the original barracks, and 350 helicopter trips over two days ferried in everything from topsoil to heat pumps. Sandblasting the salt-stained walls alone took six months. By the time work finished earlier this year, Conner had spent more than £2 million ($2.7 million), including £300,000 ($400,000) on renewable energy, solar panels, battery storage, and a biodigester for wastewater, making the site fully self-sufficient.
Thorne Island’s history stretches beyond its military roots. Sold for the first time in 1932, it later served as both a family home and a hotel. Now, Conner believes its next chapter could be as a luxury retreat, a private residence, or even a research base. "I think now everything’s done, well, I just want to find another project that really excites me.”
Thorne Island, a 2.49-acre private outcrop three nautical miles from the mainland, has gone on the market complete with a restored 19th-century fort, helipad, rooftop bar, and sweeping sea views. The Grade II-listed fortress, built between 1852 and 1854 to guard the Milford Haven Waterway, was originally designed to house 100 soldiers during a feared Napoleonic invasion.
Today, its thick granite walls enclose five plush bedrooms, grand dining halls, and terraces sheltered from Atlantic winds. The property, listed by Strutt & Parker, is reachable only by boat or helicopter.
British tech entrepreneur Mike Conner bought the island in 2017 for £500,000 ($670,000) after spotting it in a YouTube video. Back then, the fort was a derelict shell, waterlogged, windowless, and without basic utilities.
Restoration process
Restoration became a four-year mission. Builders lived in the original barracks, and 350 helicopter trips over two days ferried in everything from topsoil to heat pumps. Sandblasting the salt-stained walls alone took six months. By the time work finished earlier this year, Conner had spent more than £2 million ($2.7 million), including £300,000 ($400,000) on renewable energy, solar panels, battery storage, and a biodigester for wastewater, making the site fully self-sufficient.
Thorne Island’s history stretches beyond its military roots. Sold for the first time in 1932, it later served as both a family home and a hotel. Now, Conner believes its next chapter could be as a luxury retreat, a private residence, or even a research base. "I think now everything’s done, well, I just want to find another project that really excites me.”
