Harwich Redoubt facts for kids
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The Harwich Redoubt is a strong, round fort built a long time ago in 1808. Its main job was to protect the important port of Harwich, which is in Essex, England. It was built because people were worried about an attack from Napoleon's army. Today, a group called the Harwich Society looks after it and lets people visit.
Contents
Building the Harwich Fort
Why the Redoubt Was Built
The Harwich Redoubt was built between 1808 and 1810. At that time, there was a big worry that Napoleon's French army might try to invade Britain. To stop this, Britain made many plans to defend its coast. The Redoubt was a key part of these plans.
How It Was Designed
The fort was designed to be very strong. It was similar to other forts called Martello Towers, which were also built along the coast. These towers were like small, round fortresses. The Harwich Redoubt was special because it was planned to hold ten large cannons.
Where It Was Built
Engineers chose a high spot just outside Harwich town for the fort. This gave the cannons a clear view over the River Stour and the River Orwell. These rivers lead into the harbour. From this spot, the Redoubt's cannons could work with the guns at Landguard Fort on the other side of the water. This meant they could create a strong defense together. Major Alexander Bryce, a British Army engineer, oversaw the building. It cost about £32,000, which was a huge amount of money back then!
What the Redoubt Looks Like
Inside the Circular Fort
The Harwich Redoubt is mostly made of brick with some stone parts. It's shaped like a big circle, about 61 meters (200 feet) wide. In the middle, there's a parade ground, which is a large open space about 26 meters (85 feet) across.
Rooms and Cannons
On the ground floor, there are 18 strong, arched rooms called casemates. These rooms spread out from the central parade ground. They were used for many things:
- Soldiers slept in some of them.
- Others stored supplies.
- There were also rooms for washing, toilets, and a kitchen.
Two special casemates were used to store gunpowder and cannonballs. Lifts moved the ammunition up to the cannons.
The Gun Platform
The roof of these casemates formed a flat area called a gun platform. This platform had ten openings for the cannons. Around the outside of the fort, there was a deep ditch, about 16 meters (52 feet) wide and 7 meters (23 feet) deep. This ditch helped protect the fort from attackers.
The Redoubt's Military Story
Changing Cannons Over Time
When it was first built, the Redoubt had ten 24-pounder cannons. These fired cannonballs weighing 24 pounds. As weapons improved, the fort was updated.
- In 1861–1862, it was changed to hold even bigger 68-pounder cannons. The places where the cannons sat were made stronger with granite.
- Just ten years later, in 1872, three spots were changed again for huge 12-ton cannons. These were called RML (rifled muzzle loading) guns.
- In 1903, three spots got smaller, faster-firing 12-pounder QF (quick firing) guns.
Never Fired in Battle
Even with all these updates, the Harwich Redoubt never actually fired its cannons in a real battle. Its importance likely decreased in the late 1800s. This was because a more powerful fort, Beacon Hill Battery, was built nearby.
Later Uses
In the 1920s, the land around the Redoubt was bought by the town. This land, which used to be kept clear for the cannons to fire, became allotments (small gardens). The Redoubt itself started to fall apart.
During World War II, the Redoubt was used again by the military. It became a place for anti-aircraft guns to shoot down enemy planes. It also served as a place where British soldiers waited for trials. You can still see some of the messages these soldiers wrote on the walls.
After World War II, the British Civil Defence organization used the Redoubt. They were a group that helped protect people during emergencies. When they stopped operating, the Redoubt's military service finally ended.
Bringing the Redoubt Back to Life
Starting the Restoration
The Harwich Redoubt was recognized as an important historical site. So, in July 1969, people started working to restore it. This work has continued ever since. When they began, they found one of the huge 9-inch, 12-ton cannons buried in the dry ditch! It had been pushed in when it became too old to use. It was too big to break up for scrap metal.
A Museum Today
Today, the Redoubt is a museum. It's amazing because it's the largest ancient monument in the UK being restored by volunteers. Inside, you can see some of the original cannons that were once at the fort, including the massive 9-inch RML gun. There are also many other historical guns on display.
Around the parade ground, the rooms have been set up to show how they might have looked when soldiers lived there. Other rooms have exhibits with replica firearms and other historical items. During the summer, you can even see battle re-enactments and other special events at the Redoubt. It's a great place to learn about history!
