Crownhill Fort facts for kids
Crownhill Fort is a large fort built in the 1860s. It is located in Crownhill, Plymouth. This fort was part of a group of defences ordered by Lord Palmerston. These defences were built to protect Plymouth from possible attacks.
Today, the Landmark Trust has restored the fort. It now has small businesses, museums, and places for exhibitions. You can even stay in a holiday apartment there! The fort is open to the public on the last Friday of each month. It also offers tours for schools and groups.
Contents
History of Crownhill Fort
Crownhill Fort was designed by Captain Edmund Frederick Du Cane. It was one of the last forts ordered by Lord Palmerston. This fort was the biggest of Plymouth's northern defences. Its main job was to protect the Royal Dockyard at Devonport. This was important because people worried about a possible attack from France. At that time, Napoleon III was the leader of France.
Building the Fort
Construction of Crownhill Fort started in April 1863. The fort was very modern for its time. It had a standard many-sided (polygonal) shape. It was built on a natural hill, about 400 metres in front of the main defence line. This made it an exposed but strong position.
The fort was designed to defend itself from all directions. Each of its seven sides had huge walls called ramparts. A deep ditch surrounded the entire fort. Guns protected all sides. The fort had about 350 places for rifles to shoot from. It was planned to hold 32 large guns on its walls. It also had 6 mortars in two special pits. In 1864, a Russian general named Eduard Totleben visited. He was very impressed with the building work.
Finishing the Work and Early Use
In 1866, the building company went out of business. So, the Royal Engineers finished the work. They also became the fort's first occupants. The fort cost £76,409 to build. This was a lot of money back then. However, it was cheaper than many other forts of its kind.
By 1881, Crownhill Fort was chosen to have all its guns ready. This was for peacetime. None of the original guns are still there. But the Landmark Trust has put in similar artillery pieces. These show what the fort would have looked like.
Later Military Use
Many forts from the Victorian era were left empty by the army. This happened because weapons kept getting better. But Crownhill Fort stayed a military site until 1986. It was used by many different army groups. It served as the main base for Plymouth Garrison.
During the First World War, Crownhill Fort was very busy. It was a place where new soldiers joined up. Troops were also sent from here to places like Turkey and Africa. After the war, it became a place where soldiers returned home. Then, it became a base for the new Royal Signals Corps.
The last time Crownhill Fort had active guns was during the Second World War. Anti-aircraft guns were placed there to shoot down enemy planes. In the 1950s, a special room was built for gun operations. This room was on the main parade ground. The fort continued to be a base for the 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers. They sent many troops and supplies during the Falklands War in 1982.
In 1986, the Landmark Trust bought the fort. They have worked hard to restore it. Crownhill Fort is now the best example of Lord Palmerston's forts. Many groups have helped with money for this restoration. These include the European Committee, English Heritage, and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Structure of Crownhill Fort
Crownhill Fort has a unique seven-sided shape. It includes many smart design ideas from the Victorian era.
The Ditch
The fort is surrounded by a dry ditch. This ditch was dug out of the natural rock. It is also protected by special buildings called caponiers. Workers had to remove 200,000 tonnes of material to create this ditch. It is 30 feet deep and 30 feet wide.
The Caponiers
Crownhill Fort has six caponiers. Each caponier has three levels. The first level was for soldiers with rifles. The second level held large guns. The third level connected to a walkway around the fort's edge.
The north caponier is a "full caponier." This means it can fire in two directions. The other five caponiers are "demi-caponiers." They can only fire in one direction.
Crownhill Fort's Guns
Crownhill Fort is known for its amazing collection of guns. The cannons are kept in working order. They are fired on special event days. This helps visitors imagine what a working fort sounded like.
The fort has places for 17 guns on its main walls. This includes 5 special gun positions and 2 disappearing gun pits. There are also 15 guns in its caponiers. Some of the guns you can see at Crownhill Fort include:
- A copy of a Moncrieff Counterweight Disappearing Gun. This is one of only two working ones in the world. It uses a special weight system to pop up, fire, and then lower itself back down. The gun's own kickback (recoil) powers this movement.
- Two 13-inch Mortars. These were designed to fire very heavy explosive shells. They are on loan from the Royal Armouries. People believe they were used in the Crimean War.
- Two 32-pounder smooth-bore breech-loading guns from the 1880s. These guns were made to fire a type of ammunition called case shot.
- Four copy 32-pounder smooth-bore breech-loading guns made in 1997.
- Two copy Armstrong 7-inch rifled breechloaders. These guns were first given to the Navy in 1858. But they weren't strong enough for ships. So, they were moved to forts like Crownhill.
- Two 32-pounder guns that load from the front (muzzle-loading). They were saved from Tregantle Fort in Cornwall. They were being used as posts there!
- A 2-pound cannon from the 1790s that loads from the front.
- A carronade made by Bailey, Pegg and Co Ltd. This type of short cannon points towards an underground tunnel.
The Fort Today
Today, Crownhill Fort is home to several small businesses. It also has a holiday apartment. The fort is open to visitors on the last Friday of each month. This is from January to November. Schools and groups can also visit by making an appointment.
Visitors can explore museum displays. They can also watch demonstrations of Victorian firepower. Guided tours take you through the many underground rooms and passages.
Recent Improvements
The Landmark Trust has done a lot of work to improve the fort recently.
- In 2010, many large trees were cut down from the fort's walls. A helicopter helped remove them. These trees would have damaged the fort's structures if left to grow.
- By 2014, a three-year project finished. It cleared young trees that had grown on the outer walls. Special logging horses helped remove the wood.
- Work to clear the old Victorian storm drains finished in 2017. This helps stop flooding on the lower parts of the fort.
- In 2018, work was done outside the fort. Concrete fence posts from the 1920s were fixed. Their old wiring was also replaced.
- Work on the Royal Artillery Store was planned for September 2018. This old building will become a workshop again.
