Survey Data
Reg No
20909948
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Historical, Social, Technical
Previous Name
Camden Fort
Original Use
Battery
Date
1890 - 1930
Coordinates
180820, 61768
Date Recorded
12/03/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Two-stage over basement gun battery, built c.1910, now disused. Concrete roofs throughout. Reinforced concrete walls with red brick sections to second stage. Pair of flanking gun emplacements to north and south of second-stage on concrete plinths with steps to sides. Three-bay block to second-stage having square-headed window and door openings. Flanking flights of stairs to north and south sides of first-stage. Round-headed door openings to first-stage having cast-iron doors. Camber-headed and square-headed recesses throughout. Located within military complex. Various related structures to site.
Appraisal
Forming a pair with Fort Davis (formerly Carlisle Fort) across the water, this pair was crucial to the harbour's defence. Mirroring each other in many ways, they were designed to operate as a single defensive unit and were contemporaneously updated and developed. The strategic importance of the harbour can be seen in the number of military buildings constructed throughout the centuries at this site, Fort Davis, Spike Island, Haulbowline, etc. Cork Harbour, along with Lough Swilly and Berehaven remained in British control until 1938, at which time the Treaty Ports were returned to the Irish government. The early use of mass concrete adds to the site's architectural and technical interest.