Elizabeth Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Fort |
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| Cork, Ireland | |
Elizabeth Fort around 1866
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 Elizabeth Fort
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| Coordinates | 51°53′40″N 8°28′39″W / 51.894497°N 8.477617°W |
| Type | star fort |
| Area | c.1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Cork City Council |
| Open to the public |
Yes (Tuesday to Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12-5) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1601 |
| Battles/wars |
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Elizabeth Fort is an old fort built in the 1600s in Cork, Ireland. It's called a "star fort" because of its unique shape. It was first built on a high hill outside the city walls to protect Cork.
Over time, the city grew around the fort. Elizabeth Fort was used for many different things. It was a place for soldiers to live, a prison, and even a police station. Since 2014, the fort has become a popular place for visitors to learn about history. Many people visit it each year. You can walk along its old walls and explore the site.
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History of Elizabeth Fort
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Why Was Elizabeth Fort Built?
Elizabeth Fort was first built in 1601. It was placed on a hill south of Cork's medieval city walls. This spot was chosen because new weapons, like cannons, could be used from the hills. The old city walls and Shandon Castle weren't strong enough against these new threats.
Sir George Carew built the fort. He named it after Queen Elizabeth I, who was the queen at the time.
Early Days and Rebuilding
The first fort was made of wood and earth. But the people of Cork didn't want it. They worried that King James I might use it against them. So, in 1603, the mayor and citizens tore it down.
However, Lord Mountjoy quickly took Cork back. He made sure the fort was rebuilt.
There was an old church on the site where the fort was built. It was called "St Mary del Nard" or "Holy Cross del Nard." When the fort was rebuilt between 1624 and 1626, and again around 1649 (possibly by Oliver Cromwell), the church was removed.
Elizabeth Fort in Battles
In 1690, during a war in Ireland, Cork was a stronghold for supporters of King James II. Elizabeth Fort held out for a while during the siege of Cork. But cannons were used against the city walls from a nearby spot. The walls were broken, and the city surrendered in just four days.
After this battle, the fort was no longer needed for city defense. In 1719, it became a place for soldiers to live, called a barracks.
From Prison to Police Station
In 1817, the fort changed its use again. It became a prison. Many prisoners were held there before being sent far away to places like New South Wales (in Australia) and other British colonies. From 1822 onwards, most of the prisoners held at the fort were women. It stopped being a prison in 1837.
Later, in the late 1800s, the fort went back to being a military base. During the Irish War of Independence (1919–1921), British forces known as the "Black and Tans" used Elizabeth Fort as their base. After the war, the British left the fort.
During the Irish Civil War that followed, forces who were against the peace treaty burned the fort in August 1922.
The buildings you see inside the fort today were built after that fire. For a short time during World War II (called "The Emergency" in Ireland), it was an air-raid shelter. But mostly, the rebuilt buildings were used as a Garda (police) station until 2013. After the police station closed, Cork City Council took over the fort.
Visiting Elizabeth Fort Today
For over 400 years, Elizabeth Fort was always busy as a military or police base. This meant it wasn't usually open for people to visit. However, local groups and the city council wanted to open it up. They started by letting visitors access parts of the walls sometimes. Markets and festivals were also held there.
Becoming a Heritage Site
When the police station closed in 2013, people wanted the fort to be fully opened for tourism. In 2014, Cork City Council officially took control of the site to make this happen.
Since 2014, Elizabeth Fort has hosted many events and festivals. These include the Cork Midsummer Festival, Heritage Week, and the Cork Saint Patrick's Festival.
There are plans to develop the fort even more, possibly with a visitor center. In 2018, two of the fort's buildings were made into places where tourists can stay overnight.
Today, the walls and some inside areas of Elizabeth Fort are open to the public. You can visit six days a week: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The best part is, admission is free!
Images for kids
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A northern wall of Elizabeth Fort on high-ground over residential city streets
See also
