User:Dave souza/Fort Matilda

Fort Matilda was an artillery battery constructed on the coast of the Firth of Clyde to the west of Greenock to operate coastal artillery. It subsequently became a central part of the coastal defence and fortification of the firth, then was developed as

Background

Use of the small Bay of Quick on the south shore of the Firth of Clyde as a safe anchorage dates back as far back as 1164. A short distance to the east, the small fishing village of Greenock grew up around the West Burn, with the Old Kirk (later renamed the West Kirk) built on the west bank of the burn after a charter was granted in 1589. Work on a major new harbour to the east of the burn commenced at the time of the Acts of Union (1707) and was completed in 1710, serving growing trade with the Americas. A ropewalk was constructed along the shore to the west of the kirk at what became Ropework Quay.

In 1760 an artillery battery was built along this quay, and named Fort Beauclerc, after Sir George Beauclerk, Commander-in-Chief, Scotland. It mounted twelve 20-pounder guns, with additional brass guns placed along the road. The fort was considerably extended in 1776 following the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, and in 1778 concerns about the Clyde lacking defences against attacks by French and American privateers were discussed between Glasgow and Greenock Magistrates, resulting in funding for extension and completion of the Battery. A map surveyed in 1796 by John Ainslie shows the battery in front of the rope work, and a powder house along the coast to the west. In 1797 a battery armed with twelve 24-pounder guns with a defensive breastwork was erected in front of the ropework wharf, and named Fort Jervis in honour of admiral Sir John Jervis. A contemporary painting shows the fort from the Clyde, with 11 guns visible in its stone battlement and an angled wall facing west down the firth. It stands on an embankment built out from the shoreline to the same distance as a timber pond to its east. Fort Jervise was dismantled in 1809, effectively leaving no defence works protecting the Clyde. Its site was cleared for the Albert Harbour, and is now inside the grounds of Greenock Ocean Terminal.

War of 1812 and construction of fort

The War of 1812 declared by the United States against the UK and its colonies brought renewed concern about defences for Greenock and its harbour, and in 1813 the town clerk contacted the Commander-in-Chief for Scotland (Thomas Bradford) and the Board of Ordnance. Baronet Sir Michael Shaw Stewart granted ground for a battery at Whitefarland Point, and within months the Lords of the Admiralty allocated a frigate to be stationed at Greenock to defend the Clyde, with six gunboats manned by local volunteers.

In 1813 "[Carmichael-]Smyth, Major [J] (Engineer)" prepared a "Sketch of the River Clyde shewing the proposed situation for a Battery of nine 26 Prs. for the defence of the Harbour and Anchorage at Greenock", together with a layout "Plan of White Farline Point", a typical section, and plans, elevations and sections showing the proposed "Magazine; Store House & Guard House in the rear; the whole Establishment enclosed by a Wall nine feet high." The feu-contract for two 2 acres (0.81 ha) of land for the battery was dated 1814, and construction was completed in 1819 under the supervision of a Royal Engineer. The battery was named Fort Matilda, reportedly as a compliment to his wife, but local historian George Williamson has suggested that it was more likely to have been named after Princess Matilda (possibly Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester).

A year after completion, the guns, carriages, and ammunition were removed to Dumbarton Castle for the brief Radical War of 1820 leaving the fort dismantled. A few years later the fort was reinstated, extension and improvement works were carried out in 1858 and subsequent years.

References

• Monteith, Joy (2004), Old Greenock, Catrine, Ayrshire: Stenlake Publishing, ISBN 9781840333145
• Smith, R.M. (1921), The History of Greenock, Greenock: Orr, Pollock & Co (Inverclyde Council website)

Category:Greenock Category:Geography of Inverclyde Category:History of Inverclyde