Fort Burgoyne
Encyclopedia
Fort Burgoyne, originally known as Castle Hill Fort, was built in the 1860s as one of the Palmerston forts around Dover
in southeast England
. It was built to a polygonal system with detached eastern and western redoubt
s, to guard the high ground northeast of the strategic port of Dover
, just north of Dover Castle
. The fort is named after the 19th century General John Fox Burgoyne
, Inspector-General of Fortifications and son of the John Burgoyne
who fought in the American Revolutionary War
.
Until recently the central part of the fort was still used by the Army as Connaught Barracks, and the site is now being redeveloped for housing. Plans to use the barracks as an open prison were dropped in November 2006. The eastern and western outworks are accessible but heavily overgrown.
Palmerston Forts, Dover
The Palmerston Forts that defend Dover were built in response to the 1859 Royal Commission dealing with the perceived threat of a French invasion. The forts were intended to defend the Port of Dover, that would provide direct access to an inavasion fleet, from capture. Construction was carried out...
in southeast England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was built to a polygonal system with detached eastern and western redoubt
Redoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
s, to guard the high ground northeast of the strategic port of Dover
Port of Dover
The Port of Dover is the cross-channel port situated in Dover, south-east England. It is the nearest English port to France, at just away, and one of Europe's largest passenger ports, with 14 million travellers, 2.1 million lorries, 2.8 million cars and motorcycles and 86,000 coaches passing...
, just north of Dover Castle
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
. The fort is named after the 19th century General John Fox Burgoyne
John Fox Burgoyne
Field Marshal Sir John Fox Burgoyne, 1st Baronet GCB was a British Army officer.-Military career:Burgoyne was the illegitimate son of General John Burgoyne and opera singer Susan Caulfield. In 1798, he was commissioned into the Royal Engineers as a Second Lieutenant...
, Inspector-General of Fortifications and son of the John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
who fought in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Until recently the central part of the fort was still used by the Army as Connaught Barracks, and the site is now being redeveloped for housing. Plans to use the barracks as an open prison were dropped in November 2006. The eastern and western outworks are accessible but heavily overgrown.