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Fort Davis, County Cork

Coordinates: 51°48′58″N 8°15′40″W / 51.816°N 8.261°W / 51.816; -8.261
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Fort Davis
Dún an Dáibhisigh
Near Whitegate in County Cork in Ireland
Fort Davis viewed from Cork Harbour
Fort Davis is located in Ireland
Fort Davis
Fort Davis
Coordinates51°48′58″N 8°15′40″W / 51.816°N 8.261°W / 51.816; -8.261
TypeCoastal defence fortification
Area74 acres (30 ha)
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defence
Open to
the public		No
Site history
Built1607 (1607) (original castle)
1860 (1860)s (significant reconstruction)
EventsSiege of Cork (1690), Treaty Port handover (1938)
Garrison information
OccupantsBritish Armed Forces, Irish Defence Forces

Fort Davis (Irish: Dún an Dáibhisigh;[1] previously Fort Carlisle), is a coastal defence fortification close to Whitegate, County Cork, Ireland. Together with similar structures at Fort Mitchell (Spike Island), Fort Camden (Crosshaven), and Templebreedy Battery (also close to Crosshaven), the fort was built to defend the mouth of Cork Harbour.[2] Though used as a fortification from the early 17th century, the current structures of the 74 acre site date primarily from the 1860s.[3][4] Originally named Fort Carlisle and operated by the British Armed Forces, the fort was handed-over to the Irish Defence Forces in 1938, and renamed Fort Davis.[5] The facility is owned by the Department of Defence, and is used as a military training site with no public access.[6]

History

The coastline at Whitegate, north of Roche's Point, is at a strategic position overlooking the entrance to Cork Harbour – one of the world's largest natural harbours, and historically of defensive and naval importance to Ireland and the region.[7] One of the earliest documented fortifications at this point was built prior to 1607, and came to be known as "Prince Rupert's Tower" (for Prince Rupert of the Rhine).[2][8][9][10] By the period of the Williamite War (1689–1691) additional coastal defence fortifications were in place on the site, and known as "King John's Fort" (for John, King of England). Together with Fort Camden, this fort fell to Williamite forces under the Duke of Marlborough in the lead-up to the Siege of Cork (1690).[11] Additional construction works were undertaken from the 1790s,[12] and some of these tunnels and structures were used during the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) to house French prisoners of war.[13][14][15]

Fort Davis (then called Fort Carlisle) as pictured in the late 19th century from the companion defences at Fort Meagher (then Fort Camden)

By the mid-19th century the defences had been renamed to Fort Carlisle (for Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle a previous Lord Lieutenant of Ireland). In the 1850s, a Royal Commission gave renewed consideration to the strategic importance of the harbour, and proposed enhancements to the defences at Fort Mitchell (Spike Island), Fort Camden (Crosshaven), and Fort Carlisle. During the 1860s Fort Carlisle was therefore redeveloped along the lines of other "Palmerston Forts" in the region.[16] Some of this development took advantage of 19th century advancements in the use of concrete.[17]

During the First World War (1914–1918), the harbour was used as a naval base to cover the "Western Approaches", and Fort Davis was used to complement the defences of Fort Camden on the opposite side of the harbour entrance. Royal Garrison Artillery Coastal Defence units were stationed in the fort at this time. The fort did not see significant action during the Irish War of Independence – although a number of graves in the fort's military cemetery date from this period.[18] Following the war, under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, the harbour defences remained in the control of British government. These Treaty Port installations, including Fort Carlisle, were handed-over to the Irish authorities in 1938. The fort was renamed Fort Davis for Thomas Davis – who was the chief organiser of the Young Ireland movement. (Similarly, "Fort Westmoreland" on Spike Island was renamed "Fort Mitchell", and "Fort Camden" near Crosshaven was renamed "Fort Meagher").[5]

During "the Emergency" (1939–1945), elements of the Coastal Defence Artillery (CDA) of the Irish Artillery Corps operated from the fort.[19] By the mid- to late-20th century the CDA was merged into other artillery regiments of the Irish Army, and the fort primarily used as a training site. The site remains in the ownership of the Department of Defence and is used by the Irish Army for exercises,[20] ceremonial "gun salutes"[21] and other training purposes.[22][23]

Layout

Plan of lower harbour showing location relative to other installations: (A) Haulbowline Naval Base, (B) Fort Mitchel/Westmoreland, (C) Fort Meagher/Camden, (D) Fort Davis/Carlisle, (E) Fort Templebreedy

The features of the fort date primarily to developments in the 19th century, when – at peak – the fort had upwards of 20 guns.[4]

On the landward side, a dry-moat, ramparts, terreplein, caponier and flanking batteries defended the approaches. The dry-moat is 30 feet (9.1 m) deep and 40 feet (12 m) wide at points, and was originally crossed by a drawbridge. The star shaped landward defences included three musketry caponiers, and a simple terreplein with movable guns.[4]

On the seaward side, land batteries were trained on the harbour from eight gun emplacements. These batteries were built with a number of underground shelters, vaulted magazines, and linked in places by bunkered tunnels. Though changed over time, the batteries were originally constructed to include:

Other features of the fort include a military cemetery, a waterfront pier for sea-borne access, and a number of over-ground barracks and support buildings.[17]

Evidence of torpedo defences were discovered at the fort during clearing works in 2015.[24]

References

  1. ^ English – Irish Dictionary of Military and Related Terms (PDF). Irish Defence Forces. 2007. p. 93. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  2. ^ a b Paul M. Kerrigan (1995). Castles and fortifications in Ireland, 1485–1945. Collins Press. ISBN 1898256128.
  3. ^ "Written Answers – Defence Forces Property (Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 696 No. 2)". Oireachtas.ie. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "Victorian Forts and Artillery – Fort Carlisle PDF Datasheet" (PDF). Victorian Forts and Artillery. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  5. ^ a b "A Yankee and Rebel Side by Side in Cork Harbour". Irish in the American Civil War. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Your Town – Cork Harbour: Forts Camden and Carlisle". Passage West Town Council. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  7. ^ Ireland Green Guide Michelin 2012–2013. Michelin Green Guides. 2011. ISBN 9782067182172.
  8. ^ "British Library – Gallery – 'A View of the old Castle of Cork in Cork Harbour'". British Library. 1700. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  9. ^ James Coleman (1914). "The old castles around Cork Harbour". Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society. 2. XX: 161–75.
  10. ^ James Coleman (1915). "The old castles around Cork Harbour". Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society. 2. XXI: 105–12.
  11. ^ Samuel Lewis (1837). A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London. p. 429.
  12. ^ A fortified tunnel still bears the date 1797
  13. ^ "1830s OS Map". Ordnance Survey Ireland. Marked on 1830s map as 'French Prison'
  14. ^ Parliamentary Papers, House of Commons and Command, Volume 53. House of Commons. 1852. p. 22. Fort Carlisle consists of 2 rooms fitted up to receive 84 convicts [...] the premises termed the 'French Prison' might be converted into rooms [...]
  15. ^ Inspector of Government Prisons in Ireland annual report, 1852. HM Stationery Office. 1854. p. 17.
  16. ^ Ian Stevenson (February 1998). "The Cork Harbour Defences". The Redan (42). Palmerston Forts Society.
  17. ^ a b "Buildings of Ireland - Fort Davis". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  18. ^ "British Soldiers killed Ireland 1919–21 – Major Geoffry Lee Compton Smith". Cairogang.com. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  19. ^ "Military Archives – Coastal Defence Artillery Collection". Irish Defence Forces: Military Archives. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  20. ^ "Written Answers – Defence Forces Property (Dáil Éireann Debate Vol. 565 No. 3)". Oireachtas.ie. 15 April 2003. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  21. ^ "Press Release – Ceremony to mark the 75th Anniversary of Treaty Forts" (PDF). Cork County Council. July 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  22. ^ "Army > Organisation > 1st Brigade". Irish Defence Forces. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  23. ^ Defence Forces Annual Report (PDF) (Report). Irish Defence Forces. 2003. p. 21. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  24. ^ "VIDEO: Army find tunnel in Fort Davis". Irish Examiner. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
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