Fishguard Fort
Fishguard Fort occupies a natural defensive site on a promontory overlooking Lower Town Harbour. It was built in about 1780 in response to the threat posed by privateer raiders and in particular the activities of Paul Jones and Stephen Manhant.
Built at the expense of the Lord Lieutenant, Sir Hugh Owen, the fort was supplied with guns by the Board of Ordnance which also provided gunnery training for local volunteers; however the local townspeople were expected to pay for powder and shot. The fort was armed with eight nine-pounder guns, which may have stood on the raised platform behind the building. At the time of the abortive French invasion of 1797 the fort was being manned by three Royal Artillery invalids, but whether the guns were ever fired in anger remains open to debate.
Fishguard Fort - South West Flank
During the Second World War two Lewis Gun emplacements were located within the ramparts of the fort, together with a searchlight battery. Alongside the path leading down to the fort can be seen the concrete footings of the huts which once provided accommodation for the searchlight operators.
Fishguard Fort from the South West
