Inch Fort, Lough Swilly, Inishowen, County Donegal was built between 1812 and 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars. It had positions for nine guns, six in an open battery and a further three in a blockhouse.[1] Following the peace in 1815, the defences of Lough Swilly were neglected.

Inch Fort
County Donegal
Ireland
Gun emplacement overlooking Lough Swilly
Coordinates55°05′03″N 7°30′55″W / 55.0842°N 7.5153°W / 55.0842; -7.5153
Site information
Open to
the public
No
ConditionIntact, part demolished
Site history
Built1812-1813
Reconstructed 1895-1899
MaterialsStone
Concrete
Earth
Garrison information
GarrisonBritish Armed Forces

During the 1880s a scheme to strengthen the defences in Lough Swilly was put into effect. By 1893 Inch Fort had been rearmed with two 6-inch guns on hydropneumatic carriages.[2] A small barrack complex was added at the same time. Following recommendations of the Owen Committee in 1905, the guns were deemed surplus and the fort was disarmed and abandoned.[3][4]

Today the site includes the two 6-inch gun positions and associated magazines, but the Napoleonic blockhouse was mostly demolished during the 1890s remodelling.[citation needed]

Further reading

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  • Col. K. W. Maurice-Jones (1959). The History of Coast Artillery in the British Army. London: Royal Artillery Institution.
  • Paul M. Kerrigan (1995). Castles and Fortifications in Ireland, 1485–1945. Cork: Collins Press. ISBN 1898256128.

References

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  1. ^ The National Archives, Plans of Neds Point Fort and Down of Inch Fort, War Office, 1862 WO78/4747/1
  2. ^ Stevenson, Ian (1995). "Two Irish Loughs". The Redan: Journal of the Palmerston Forts Society, p. 17.
  3. ^ Owen, J. F. (1905). Report of the Committee on the Armaments of Home Ports. London: HMSO.
  4. ^ Stevenson, pp. 11–28