Neds Point Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neds Point Fort |
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| County Donegal Ireland |
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Neds Point Fort front entrance
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| Site information | |
| Owner | Local Authority |
| Condition | Intact |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1812-1813 Reconstructed 1895-1899 |
| Materials | Stone, concrete, earth |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | British Armed Forces |
Neds Point Fort is an old military fort found along the coast of Lough Swilly in County Donegal, Ireland. It was one of several forts built to protect the northwest of Ireland from a possible French invasion. This happened during the time of the Napoleonic Wars, which were major conflicts involving the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte. The fort is close to the town of Buncrana, which was once an important naval town. The fort you see today was mostly built between 1812 and 1813.
Contents
Why Neds Point Fort Was Built
Neds Point Fort was part of a bigger plan to make Lough Swilly and Lough Foyle safe. These areas were important waterways. The British wanted to protect them from any attacks by the French navy. The fort was designed with a rectangular building called a blockhouse. This blockhouse held two large guns. There was also a separate area, called a battery, with four more guns. A ditch surrounded the fort for extra protection.
Early Days and Neglect
After the Napoleonic Wars ended, the need for these forts seemed to disappear. Because of this, Neds Point Fort was not kept up-to-date. Its defenses were left alone for many years.
New Guns and Changes
In 1874, the fort was given new weapons. The tower, or blockhouse, received two 5.5-inch howitzers. These are types of cannons that fire shells in a high arc. The main battery area got four 24-pounder smooth bore guns. These were older types of cannons.
The fort was changed again in the 1890s. It was updated to hold two 6-inch guns. These guns were mounted on special hydropneumatic systems. This system helped absorb the recoil when the guns fired. During this time, a large underground storage area for ammunition, called a magazine, was built. The height of the tower was also made shorter. Two extra practice areas were built nearby. These areas were for training with six 64-pounder guns and four 5-inch Breech Loading (BL) guns. Breech loading means the ammunition is loaded from the back of the gun, not the front.
The Fort's Later Years
By 1905, a group called the Owen Committee suggested that the fort no longer needed its weapons. So, by 1907, all the guns were removed. A report from 1913 confirmed that the fort had no weapons left.
Neds Point Fort Today
Today, Neds Point Fort is still mostly complete. The practice areas built in the 1890s are also still there. In 2012, work began to fix up the fort. The plan was to open it to the public in the spring of 2013. It was going to be a special place for watching wildlife.
