Shorncliffe Redoubt facts for kids
The Shorncliffe Redoubt is an old fort made of earth. It was built in Britain during the time of Napoleon to help protect the country. This fort is about 300 feet by 300 feet in size. You can find it on the Kentish Coast in Sandgate, Kent.
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A Look Back: Why Shorncliffe Was Built
In 1793, a big event called the French Revolution happened in France. This led to France declaring war on Great Britain in 1794. Britain then worried that France might try to invade.
At that time, Britain mostly relied on its navy, the Royal Navy, for defense. Its land defenses were not very strong. To get ready for a possible invasion, the British Parliament bought land at Shorncliffe in 1794. This spot was perfect for building defenses because it was only 20 miles from the French coast. People living there could even see the smoke from Napoleon's army camps across the water!
Later, more defenses were added along the Kent Coast. This included the Royal Military Canal, which is 28 miles long. It was started in October 1804 and finished in June 1805. It stretches from Cliffend to Seabrook, Kent. Also, strong round towers called Martello Towers were built between 1805 and 1808 to make the defenses even stronger.
Colonel William Twiss, who was a military engineer, designed the Shorncliffe Redoubt. Once it was built, the fort became home to several famous army groups. These included the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot, the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Light Infantry Regiment, and the 95th Rifles. A very important officer named Sir John Moore trained light infantry soldiers here in 1802.
How the Redoubt Was Built
Over the years, many maps of the Redoubt have been made. The fort was changed and redesigned for different uses and new military ideas. But one thing always stayed the same: its outer walls, which were made of earth. The only small change was on the side facing the sea. During the Victorian era, this wall was made lower so that the fort's commander and his wife could enjoy the view of the ocean.
Building the Earth Walls
The way the earth walls were built was very different from older forts. In older walls, workers simply dug out earth and piled it up. This meant the soft topsoil ended up at the bottom, and the stony ground was on top. This method worked well before cannons were widely used.
The design of the Shorncliffe walls was much smarter. It showed careful planning and engineering. First, the grass (turf) was carefully lifted and set aside. Then, the topsoil was removed. The stony ground underneath was used to create the main part of the wall. A layer of topsoil was then placed over this stony core and pressed down firmly. Another layer of stony ground was added, followed by more topsoil. It's believed that the grass (turf) was then placed at the bottom of the mound. This helped make the wall extra stable and encouraged grass to grow, which protected the wall from bad weather. This special way of building gave the walls strong foundations. It also made them much better at standing up to cannon fire than older earth forts.
Ditches and Defenses
The deep ditches dug around the Redoubt were about 5 meters (about 16 feet) deep. With the earthen ramparts (the raised walls) behind them, the Redoubt was very well protected.
Some old maps show that the Redoubt had very strong magazines, which are places to store ammunition. However, archaeological digs (when scientists dig up old sites) have not found these magazines. It turns out that the maps were more like ideas for a much larger, star-shaped fort that was never built. This was because new ways of fighting, taught by Colonel Coote Manningham and Sir John Moore, changed how infantry (foot soldiers) fought.
The Shorncliffe Army Camp is still nearby and is used by the army today. The Shorncliffe Redoubt itself has become quite worn down over time.
