Fort George, Highland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort George |
|
|---|---|
| Ardersier, Highland, Scotland | |
Fort George from the air
|
|
 Fort George
Location within Inverness-shire
|
|
| Coordinates | 57°35′02″N 4°04′13″W / 57.58389°N 4.07028°W |
| Type | Georgian Bastion fort |
| Height | Up to 12 metres (39 ft) |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1748–1769 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1757-Present |
| Materials | Sandstone |
| Events | Built after the Jacobite rising of 1745 |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland |
Fort George is a huge 18th-century fortress in Scotland. It is located near Ardersier, not far from Inverness. This amazing fort was built to help control the Scottish Highlands. It was created after the Jacobite rising of 1745, a big rebellion.
The fort replaced an older "Fort George" in Inverness. That first fort was built after an earlier rebellion in 1715. The current Fort George has never been attacked. It has been used by the army ever since it was built.
Fort George is designed like a star. This shape helped protect it from attacks. The fort looks almost exactly as it did hundreds of years ago. Today, you can visit Fort George. It has exhibits showing how soldiers lived there. It is still used as an army barracks today.
Contents
The First Fort George
In 1726, a different fort called Fort George was finished in Inverness. General George Wade ordered it to be built. This fort stood on a hill by the River Ness. It included parts of an old medieval castle. That castle was started way back in the 11th century.
The first Fort George could hold 400 soldiers. Its first leader was Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet. He was a colonel in the Black Watch regiment.
Fort George Under Attack
During the 1745 rising, the fort was surrounded by three thousand Jacobite rebels. The soldiers inside could not get help. Fort George had to give up in February 1746. The Jacobites then blew up the old Fort George. They did not want the British Army to use it again.
After the British won the Battle of Culloden in 1746, they decided to build a new fort. Colonel William Skinner was chosen to rebuild it. They decided to build the new Fort George about 10 miles (16 km) from Inverness. This new spot was at the mouth of the Moray Firth. The old fort's site was empty for nearly 70 years. Later, Inverness Castle was built there. This new castle was used as a prison and courthouse, not for military battles.
Building the New Fort George
The perfect spot for the new fort was a flat piece of land at Ardersier. It sticks out into the Moray Firth. This location was great because it controlled the sea route to Inverness. The fort also had its own harbour. This meant supplies could arrive by sea, even if the fort was under attack.
Work on Fort George began in 1748. Colonel Skinner was in charge of the project. The famous Adam brothers, John, Robert, and James, were the main builders. About 1,000 soldiers helped with the work. They also protected the site from any attacks.
By 1757, most of the main defenses were ready. Fort George was finally finished in 1769. It cost a huge amount of money for that time.
How Fort George Was Protected
Fort George was built with many layers of protection. This is called "defence in depth."
Strong Walls and Bunkers
The main walls are made of stone. They are shaped with angled parts called bastions and redoubts. This design meant that guns on one wall could fire at attackers near another wall. The walls are very wide and covered with grass. Inside, there are underground bunkers called casemates. These bunkers were designed to protect all the soldiers from artillery fire.
The land leading up to the fort is covered in loose stones. This made it hard for attackers to move quickly.
Hidden Entrance and Traps
Sloping grassy banks hide most of the fort from view. These banks also helped absorb cannonball hits. The main entrance is reached through a separate building called a ravelin. This building had a guardhouse. It was completely open to fire from the main fort.
After the ravelin, there was a raised wooden walkway. It had a drawbridge that could be pulled up. This walkway crossed a wide ditch. This ditch was a "killing ground." Any attackers in the ditch would be easy targets for guns on the fort's walls.
Fort George Today
Fort George is still used by the British Army. The Black Watch, a famous Scottish regiment, has been based there since 2007.
In 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that the fort would close in 2032. They said it was no longer needed because the Highland rebellions were over.
Visiting Fort George
Even though it's still a military base, much of Fort George is open to the public. You can pay to enter and explore. Historic Environment Scotland has displays showing what life was like for soldiers long ago. The Grand Magazine building shows a collection of old weapons. Actors also recreate stories of 18th-century soldiers. In 2019, over 76,000 people visited the fort.
Highlanders' Museum
The old Lieutenant Governors’ House is now home to the Highlanders' Museum. This is the official museum for the Queen's Own Highlanders and Lovat Scouts regiments.
The museum has many interesting things. You can see old uniforms, weapons, and medals. There are also "death pennies," which are special memorial plaques from World War I. The museum tells the history of the regiments. It also shows their links to Scottish clans. You can learn about famous soldiers and the regiments' actions in different wars. The fort's chapel is also open to visitors. It has many regimental flags and memorials.
Images for kids
-
A ravelin defends the main entrance to the fort
-
A dry moat separates the outer earthworks from the fort
-
Ramps were used for rapid access to the ramparts
-
Bartizan turrets guard the scarp (dry moat) for defence in depth
-
The sole surviving example of a MK1 RML 64 pounder 64 cwt gun is housed at the fort
-
The interior of a bartizan with firing step
-
The fort's barracks
-
The inner gateway that connects the chapel with the fort's barracks
-
The 18th-century chapel's interior has a two-tiered arcade on three sides supported by Roman Doric columns
-
A 13-inch smooth bore mortar could fire – at a fixed angle of 45 degrees – a shell weighing 200 lb (91 kg) up to 2,900 yd (2,700 m) using 9 lb (4.1 kg) of black powder
