Location
View Location in Barracks Map Viewer
Description
Remains of the fort are still clearly visible in satellite imagery (see Map Viewer).
History
In 1602, Charles Blount, Lord Deputy Mountjoy, oversaw the building of a bridge and fort to protect a strategic crossing on the River Blackwater at Charlemont. In 1620, Toby Caulfeild, governor of Charlemont, was responsible for initiating work on a new fort at this location. Further additions and improvements were made to the fort in the 1660s and 1760s.
In the early eighteenth century, the barracks could house three companies of infantry, which in 1733 came from Bissett’s regiment and in 1734 from Otway’s. In 1754 the troops came from Home’s infantry regiment. By the early nineteenth century, when Charlemont had become the ordnance depot for the northern part of Ireland, the barracks had been re-designated as an artillery barracks, accommodating two companies.
The last garrison was withdrawn from the fort in February 1858.
Sources
- A list of the general and field officers, as they rank in the army. (London, 1754).
- ‘Charlemont Fort’. Available from Irish Antiquities.
- Lewis, Samuel. A topographical dictionary of Ireland 1837. Available from Ask about Ireland or Library Ireland.
- Quarters of the army in Ireland for Anno 1733 [Dublin, 1733].
- O’Neill, James and Logue, Paul. ‘Charlemont Fort… a brief guide’ in History Armagh Magazine. Available from Armagh & District History Group.
- Quarters of the army in Ireland for Anno 1734. Dublin, 1734.