A derelict 19th-century fortress sitting on a tiny island off the Pembrokeshire coast had no electricity, no running water and had been empty for 17 years when technology entrepreneur Mike Conner bought it in 2017. He paid £555,000 for Thorne Island and then spent almost five years bringing the abandoned fort back to life. It now has 40 beds, four en-suite bathrooms and its own nightclub, and has been put back on the market for £3 million.
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How a 1850s Welsh island fort went from military base to abandoned ruin
According to the data cited on island’s official site, Thorne Island lies near Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire and was originally built in the 1850s to protect the important naval port from French attacks. The 100-man fort later had a very different life, becoming a hotel in 1947 and hosting weddings, birthdays and stag parties.
It was eventually sold in 1999, but attempts to bring it back into use failed. The island changed hands twice more in the years that followed, including a stint with a hotel group that abandoned plans for a costly relaunch, before Conner bought the listed building in May 2017, by which point it had sat largely derelict and overgrown for close to two decades.
The first challenge was simply getting water
The fort was a long way from being a functioning home when Conner arrived. There was no electricity or running water, while food and waste had to be transported between the island and the mainland.
Even installing a working toilet became a major engineering job. According to the BBC, Conner had to cut through about 16ft (5m) of rock to reach a biodigester pump, a process that ultimately cost about £200,000.
The restoration eventually took nearly five years, with six men living on the island for around four years while the work was carried out. Much of the equipment needed for the project had to be transported by helicopter because of the island's difficult location.
The abandoned fort became a party space
The finished Thorne Island is very different from the waterlogged, empty building Conner purchased. The restored property now has 40 beds, four en-suite bathrooms and a nightclub, with the old military fort adapted for large gatherings and private events.
The island had already developed a reputation as a party venue during its years as a hotel. Conner has continued that tradition, hosting events there himself, including celebrations for his 50th birthday. The island can accommodate around 800 people for events, although its current configuration provides sleeping space for about 40.
Thorne Island is now on the market for £3 million
After years spent restoring the fort, Conner has decided to sell the unusual property. It is now being offered for £3 million, giving a new owner the chance to take over a private island with a restored historic fortress and facilities designed for large-scale entertainment.
Conner told the BBC that he sees several possible futures for the site, from a tourist attraction to an events venue. He said the island could host what he described as an “unbelievable 24-hour experience”, with its isolation making it possible to hold large events without nearby neighbours.
For Conner, the project was also more personal than simply renovating a property. He discovered during the restoration that he is a quarter Welsh, as his mother grew up at Upton Castle near Pembroke Dock. After years of construction, helicopter deliveries and engineering problems, the former technology entrepreneur now hopes someone else will decide what the unusual Welsh fortress becomes next.
