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John
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« on: August 01, 2011, 19:47:52 PM » |
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From Wiki:
In the early 1850s a renewed fear of French invasion led to the planning and construction of new fort on the west bank of the river. The work was completed in September 1854 at a cost of £7,615. The new fort was in the shape of a lunette, that is a straight sided crescent. Construction was overseen by Captain Fenwick of the Royal Engineers, and was carried out by a London building firm with local labour. The fort consisted of a platform for the guns with ramparts surrounded by a nine yard (eight metre) wide ditch. The ditch incorporated a Carnot wall running along its centre. This was designed to halt attackers attempting to cross the ditch. The wall itself had loop-holes for defenders to fire through. In addition at each corner were projecting open bastions from which the garrison could fire at besiegers along the length of the wall. To the rear of the gun platform was a fortified barrack block. The fort was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom; its Carnot wall and three open bastions making it unique.
A further barrack block was later built outside the fort to house additional troops. The 1861 Census shows a total complement of 70 men including a gunner, surgeon, drummer, officers, NCOs and privates. The armaments, brought by sea from Woolwich arsenal, were three 68-pounder and two 32-pounder cannons. By 1873 the fort had become unable to accommodate, or defend against, larger and more powerful guns and it was taken out of service. The last master gunner, Mr Collinson, was buried in Littlehampton cemetery in 1879. The guns were finally removed in 1897 and the fort partially dismantled.
Attached images: plans of Littlehampton Fort in 1859 and 1886.
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John
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« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2011, 18:20:08 PM » |
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Section through Littlehampton Fort, 1886
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Littlehampton Fort
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« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2011, 00:49:35 AM » |
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John, These plans are amazing, thank you for posting them! I am currently undertaking a restoration project on Littlehampton and would welcome any other photos/plans you may have ? Regards Andy Littlehampton Fort www.littlehamptonfort.co.uk |
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John
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« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2011, 08:17:42 AM » |
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I do have a couple more plan extracts, but no aerial shots. I'll sort them out soon - in the meantime, feel free to share some of your images on here  |
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John
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« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2011, 20:04:34 PM » |
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Here's one more plan..
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Littlehampton Fort
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« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2011, 20:20:55 PM » |
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These plans are great, i love the 1886, shame its not a bit clearer but then again it is an old document. Can i ask how you got hold of them? if you have anything at all on the Fort please let me know. andy@littlehamptonfort.co.uk |
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John
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« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2011, 18:52:57 PM » |
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Two more map and plan extracts..
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Epsom
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« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2011, 08:53:51 AM » |
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These plans are great, i love the 1886, shame its not a bit clearer but then again it is an old document. Can i ask how you got hold of them? if you have anything at all on the Fort please let me know. andy@littlehamptonfort.co.ukI do so like the detail on these, they seem to take a lot of effort in those days |
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John
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« Reply #8 on: August 15, 2011, 09:19:52 AM » |
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I agree, some of these old plans are real works of art.
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Littlehampton Fort
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« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2011, 22:57:18 PM » |
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Hi John,
Do you have any more of these great pictures/plans of Littlehampton Fort?
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