I must start this by emphasising that Landguard Fort is readily accessable to the public and is now managed by English Heritage. With my main area of interest being military archeology, I think the site has considerable interest, and is a good counterpoint to Beacon Hill Fort which lies on the other side of this estuary.
There has been a fort at Landguard point since the 16th century. The earliest parts of the fort that now occupies the site date from 1744, with the last major alterations taking place in the late 19th century before changes in weaponry rendered it largely obsolete and defences were moved to seperate outer batteries.
The inner parade of the main keep, dating from Victorian era, with soldiers barracks on the ground floor and officers quarters on the first floor.
Soldiers wash rooms.
Officers quarters.
The magazines date from the same period
One of two Sally Ports, passages through the forts thick walls which would allow a counter attack to be made from the outer defensive ditch on any army trying to scale the walls.
The caponier, basically a pillbox projecting into the ditch to allow the forts garrison to fire back onto any invaders attacking the walls. On the forts roof is the Fire Commanders Post built in 1901-2 and enlarged in 1915 which controlled all of the guns in the estuary.
Caponier interior.
Range finding post on the roof
As late as 1952 one of the old gun casemates was partitioned fro use as a sea defence centre, controlling all of the guns still defending the entrances to Harwich and Felixstowe harbours.
This site has a lot of character, lots of dank and dingy passageways and is well worth a visit.
There has been a fort at Landguard point since the 16th century. The earliest parts of the fort that now occupies the site date from 1744, with the last major alterations taking place in the late 19th century before changes in weaponry rendered it largely obsolete and defences were moved to seperate outer batteries.
The inner parade of the main keep, dating from Victorian era, with soldiers barracks on the ground floor and officers quarters on the first floor.
Soldiers wash rooms.
Officers quarters.
The magazines date from the same period
One of two Sally Ports, passages through the forts thick walls which would allow a counter attack to be made from the outer defensive ditch on any army trying to scale the walls.
The caponier, basically a pillbox projecting into the ditch to allow the forts garrison to fire back onto any invaders attacking the walls. On the forts roof is the Fire Commanders Post built in 1901-2 and enlarged in 1915 which controlled all of the guns in the estuary.
Caponier interior.
Range finding post on the roof
As late as 1952 one of the old gun casemates was partitioned fro use as a sea defence centre, controlling all of the guns still defending the entrances to Harwich and Felixstowe harbours.
This site has a lot of character, lots of dank and dingy passageways and is well worth a visit.
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