Elizabeth Fort
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Fort is a 17th century star fort
off Barrack Street in Cork
, Ireland
. Originally built as a defensive fortification
outside the city walls, the city eventually grew around the fort, and it took on various other roles - including use as a military barracks, prison, and police station.
times, the development of artillery and the possibility of its deployment on the hills surrounding the city, diminished the potential effectiveness of these defences. The fort was built by Sir George Carew
and named after Queen Elizabeth I.
This original fort was built of timber and earth, and within a few short years was pulled down by the citizens of Cork. Fearing that the fort might be used against them by James I
during the Tudor conquest of Ireland, the mayor and people of Cork demolished the fort in 1603. Cork was retaken however by Lord Mountjoy and the fort was rebuilt.
The basic structure of the current fort has its basis in reconstructions dating from 1624 to 1626, and in works reputedly carried out under Cromwell
in 1649.
In 1690, during the Williamite War in Ireland
, Cork was a Jacobite
stronghold, and while Elizabeth Fort held out for some time during the siege of Cork
, artillery was brought to bear on the eastern walls of the city from a vantage point at Red Abbey. The walls were breached and the city capitulated within four days.
In the decades following the siege, the fort ceased to operate as a defensive structure for the city, and in 1719 was put to use as a barracks. In 1835, it was re-purposed again - this time as a female prison.
It reverted however to military use and became a station of the Cork City Artillery. During the Irish War of Independence
, Elizabeth Fort was used as a base by the "Black and Tans
", but was relinquished by the British following the Anglo-Irish Treaty
. During the succeeding Irish Civil War
the fort was burned by anti-treaty forces in August 1922.
The current interior structures of the fort date from a rebuild following this fire. Several of these buildings within the fort are now in use as a Garda
(police) station, with the remainder and ramparts partly accessible by tourists. Seasonal markets and festivals are occasionally held in the fort.
Star fort
A star fort, or trace italienne, is a fortification in the style that evolved during the age of gunpowder, when cannon came to dominate the battlefield, and was first seen in the mid-15th century in Italy....
off Barrack Street in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Originally built as a defensive fortification
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
outside the city walls, the city eventually grew around the fort, and it took on various other roles - including use as a military barracks, prison, and police station.
History
Elizabeth Fort was first built in 1601 on a hill to the south and outside the medieval walls of Cork. This position was chosen because, while the city had relied on Shandon Castle and the city walls for defence since Anglo-NormanAnglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
times, the development of artillery and the possibility of its deployment on the hills surrounding the city, diminished the potential effectiveness of these defences. The fort was built by Sir George Carew
George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes
George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes , known as Sir George Carew between 1586 and 1605 and as The Lord Carew between 1605 and 1626, served under Queen Elizabeth I during the Tudor conquest of Ireland and was appointed President of Munster. -Early career:Carew was the son of Dr...
and named after Queen Elizabeth I.
This original fort was built of timber and earth, and within a few short years was pulled down by the citizens of Cork. Fearing that the fort might be used against them by James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
during the Tudor conquest of Ireland, the mayor and people of Cork demolished the fort in 1603. Cork was retaken however by Lord Mountjoy and the fort was rebuilt.
The basic structure of the current fort has its basis in reconstructions dating from 1624 to 1626, and in works reputedly carried out under Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
in 1649.
In 1690, during the Williamite War in Ireland
Williamite war in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland—also called the Jacobite War in Ireland, the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland and in Irish as Cogadh an Dá Rí —was a conflict between Catholic King James II and Protestant King William of Orange over who would be King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
, Cork was a Jacobite
Jacobite rising
The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...
stronghold, and while Elizabeth Fort held out for some time during the siege of Cork
Siege of Cork
The Siege of Cork took place during the Williamite war in Ireland in the year of 1690, shortly after the Battle of the Boyne when James II attempted to retake the English throne from King William III....
, artillery was brought to bear on the eastern walls of the city from a vantage point at Red Abbey. The walls were breached and the city capitulated within four days.
In the decades following the siege, the fort ceased to operate as a defensive structure for the city, and in 1719 was put to use as a barracks. In 1835, it was re-purposed again - this time as a female prison.
It reverted however to military use and became a station of the Cork City Artillery. During the Irish War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
, Elizabeth Fort was used as a base by the "Black and Tans
Black and Tans
The Black and Tans was one of two newly recruited bodies, composed largely of British World War I veterans, employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary as Temporary Constables from 1920 to 1921 to suppress revolution in Ireland...
", but was relinquished by the British following the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Anglo-Irish Treaty
The Anglo-Irish Treaty , officially called the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty Between Great Britain and Ireland, was a treaty between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and representatives of the secessionist Irish Republic that concluded the Irish War of...
. During the succeeding Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
the fort was burned by anti-treaty forces in August 1922.
The current interior structures of the fort date from a rebuild following this fire. Several of these buildings within the fort are now in use as a Garda
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
(police) station, with the remainder and ramparts partly accessible by tourists. Seasonal markets and festivals are occasionally held in the fort.