Inch Fort

Inch Fort, Lough Swilly, Inishowen, County Donegal was built between 1812 and 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars. It had positions for nine guns, six in an open battery and a further three in a blockhouse.^[1] Following the peace in 1815, the defences of Lough Swilly were neglected.

Opento
thepublicNo

ConditionIntact, part demolished

Coordinates55.0842°N 7.5153°W / 55.0842; -7.5153

Built1812-1813
Reconstructed 1895-1899

Quick facts Site information, Open to the public ...

Inch Fort
County Donegal Ireland
Gun emplacement overlooking Lough Swilly
Site information
Open to the public	No
Condition	Intact, part demolished
Location
Coordinates	55.0842°N 7.5153°W / 55.0842; -7.5153
Site history
Built	1812-1813 Reconstructed 1895-1899
Materials	Stone Concrete Earth
Garrison information
Garrison	British Armed Forces

Close

During the 1880s a scheme to strengthen the defences in Lough Swilly was put into effect. By 1893 Inch Fort had been rearmed with two 6-inch guns on hydropneumatic carriages.^[2] A small barrack complex was added at the same time. Following recommendations of the Owen Committee in 1905, the guns were deemed surplus and the fort was disarmed and abandoned.^[3][4]

Today the site includes the two 6-inch gun positions and associated magazines, but the Napoleonic blockhouse was mostly demolished during the 1890s remodelling.^{[citation needed]}