Neds Point Fort

Neds Point Fort
County Donegal
Ireland
Neds Point Fort front entrance
Neds Point Fort
Coordinates Coordinates: 55°08′28″N 7°28′26″W / 55.141°N 7.474°W / 55.141; -7.474
Site information
Owner Local Authority
Open to
the public		 Accessible
Condition Intact
Site history
Built 1812-1813
Reconstructed 1895-1899
Materials Stone
Concrete
Earth
Garrison information
Garrison British Armed Forces

Neds Point Fort is one of several Napoleonic batteries built along the shores of Lough Swilly in county Donegal, to defend the north west of Ireland. It was part of a scheme to fortify Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle against French Invasion during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.[1] It is situated near the once important naval town of Buncrana and was completed between 1812 and 1813.[2] It comprised a rectangular blockhouse mounting two guns and a supporting battery mounting four guns. The fort is surrounded by a ditch.

After the end of the Napoleonic Wars the defences were neglected and not updated. In 1874 the fort was armed with two 5.5-inch Howitzers in the tower and four 24 Pounder smooth bore guns in the main battery.[3]

It was remodeled in the 1890s as a battery with two 6-inch guns on hydropneumatic mountings. This included a central underground magazine complex and the height of the tower or blockhouse was also reduced. In addition two practice batteries were constructed for six 64 Pounder guns and four 5-inch Breech Loading (BL) guns. In 1905 it was recommended by the Owen Committee that the fort be disarmed.[4] This was completed by 1907.

The fort remains substantially intact, along with the practice batteries. As of 2012, the site was subject to some restoration and intended to be open to the public as a wildlife observation centre in spring of 2013.

References

  1. ↑ Lonely Planet (1 March 2012). Lonely Planet County Donegal: Chapter from Ireland Travel Guide. Lonely Planet. pp. 51–. ISBN 978-1-74321-154-0.
  2. ↑ Stevenson, Ian, 1995. Two Irish Loughs, Redan: Journal of the Palmerston Forts Society, Gosport, pp11-28
  3. ↑ The National Archives, Plans of Neds Point Fort and Down of Inch Fort, War office, 1862 WO78/4747/1
  4. ↑ Owen, J F, 1905. Report of the Committee on the Armaments of Home Ports, HMSO, London

Publications

  • Paul M. Kerrigan (1995). Castles and fortifications in Ireland, 1485–1945. Collins Press. ISBN 1898256128.
  • Col K W Maurice-Jones, 1959. The History of Coast Artillery in the British Army, Royal Artillery Institution, London
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