Menoffagainorrhoea; Fort at the Front - Parcel 1

This is going to be a multi-post as there was just so much...soooooo muuucchhh  I tell ya!!! 'As if there hadn't been enough already', you are thinking. History, people, history. My trip is now part of that and must be recorded for posterity!!! Anyhoo, am going to break it up cuz tomorrow is First Friday Filmclub, then the weekend's got the usual. Small parcels. Here's the first.

Tuesday, June 26th and Aitch suggested we go to Felixstowe again. Our last major outing of my visit needed to be something worthy, but also allow for my downturn in stamina. We had both wanted to see the Landguard Fort, so it wasn't a hard decision. (And I would get another shipping candy fix...)

Now, so far on the Suffolk Saga, we have seen grand old houses and plenty of churches and a museum of air... the other thing that might be thought about is castles. The uninitiated may be forgiven for thinking this is one such. There's a difference??? Oh yes indeed. Castles are large residences or a group of large buildings that have been constructed with strong walls to protect against attacks. Generally speaking, they were inhabited by a lord or noble and were originally used as a base from which to rule the surrounding area. These structures often served as a place of protection, a military hub, an administrative centre and a symbol of wealth and power and largely domestic. There would be comforts and commerce within the walls and through them.

A fort is not a residence, but rather a military fortification. These structures have been built specifically with war in mind and are used to defend specific territories. Comfort was the least requirement. This became abundantly clear as I worked my way around this incredible place. Aitch and I investigated separately and met together at the entrance some two hours later.

This shingle spit on the East and North of the Orwell-Stour Estuary appears to have had a long history of some level of defence, but the more permanent nature of this came about in the 18th century. I am not about to recite the whole history here. It has already been done most expertly HERE. I heartily recommend the read!

What fascinated me was that this place had been adapted so frequently over the centuries and had been actively used almost until the 1960s! There was quite an 'immediate' energy here, and I even remarked that - in the horrible need of it - the place could be pressed once again into service. Modern warfare wouldn't require it, of course; but still, that was the energy which remained. Now I did capture a fair few of the info boards, which along with that history link, ought to hold your interest.

...and you thought MY posterior was wide!!! 

In this room, there was a sound experience, where one could listen to a team of gunners loading and firing a replica of one of these guns (in South Africa I believe); it was L.O.U.D. and the room shook.

Read more about mantlets and their protective purpose HERE. I know I am providing a lot of links on this journey; but really, why regurgitate what has already been so very well done? Also, it leaves you free to appreciate the images and only follow through if it truly interests you. I may salivate at some of these details, but I know not everyone does!!!

Okay, that was a glimpse at some of the early stuff. The next post will show you 20th-century adaptation. Back Monday.