Fort Perch Rock - 20th Aug 2008 5:02pm
Fort Perch Rock was built as a coastal defence battery built between 1825 and 1829 during the Napoleonic period but the the time the government had agreed on a design Napoleon had died. It was built to protect the Port of Liverpool and as a fortified lighthouse to replace the old Perch Rock Light. It was originally built on an area known as Black Rock and was cut off at high tide, but now coastal reclamation has made it fully accessible.
The Fort covers an area of about 4000 square yards, with enough space for 100 men. It was built with red sandstone from the Runcorn quarries. The height of the walls ranges from 24 feet (7.3 m) to 32 feet (9.8 m), and the towers are 40 feet (12 m) high. The Fort originally had a drawbridge, and a Tuscan portal which bore the coat of arms and the words 'Fort Perch Rock'. At one point, it was armed with 15 32-pounder Cannons and in 1863 it was remodelled and equipped with the latest 64-Pounder Cannons mounted on platforms but in 1893 the structure was altered and the fort was then equipped with 6" Navel Guns which only 3 of these guns were fitted. The outer walls had to be lowerd and the old courtyard and rooms just to acommidate these guns, Further alterations were made to the north wall which was filled with sand and search lights fitted.
It was nicknamed the 'Little Gibraltar of The Mersey'.
The fort seen service through both world wars and the guns were last fired at the battle of britian celebration in 1951
The projected cost of the build was £27,583.0s.8d. Kitson ensured that this budget was not exceeded, finishing the fort for a total cost of £26,965.0s.8d.
The Fort covers an area of about 4000 square yards, with enough space for 100 men. It was built with red sandstone from the Runcorn quarries. The height of the walls ranges from 24 feet (7.3 m) to 32 feet (9.8 m), and the towers are 40 feet (12 m) high. The Fort originally had a drawbridge, and a Tuscan portal which bore the coat of arms and the words 'Fort Perch Rock'. At one point, it was armed with 15 32-pounder Cannons and in 1863 it was remodelled and equipped with the latest 64-Pounder Cannons mounted on platforms but in 1893 the structure was altered and the fort was then equipped with 6" Navel Guns which only 3 of these guns were fitted. The outer walls had to be lowerd and the old courtyard and rooms just to acommidate these guns, Further alterations were made to the north wall which was filled with sand and search lights fitted.
It was nicknamed the 'Little Gibraltar of The Mersey'.
The fort seen service through both world wars and the guns were last fired at the battle of britian celebration in 1951
The projected cost of the build was £27,583.0s.8d. Kitson ensured that this budget was not exceeded, finishing the fort for a total cost of £26,965.0s.8d.
Description: Perch Rock
