Listing Type : Defended Commercial Port
Location : England
Harwich has defences that date back many centuries with a number of Martello Towers and Harwich Redoubt which were built during the Napoleonic Wars.
The Port of Harwich had the following principal fortifications:
- Shotley Point Battery with 7-inch RBL guns and later 10-inch BL guns
- Harwich Redoubt with ten 24-pdr, upgraded to 68-pdr and 8-inch Howitzers. Then three 9-inch RMLs added to be replaced by 12-pdr QF guns.
- Beacon Hill Fort which was built between 1889 and 1892 for two 6-ich March VII guns and two 4.7-inch Q.F. guns.
- Landguard Fort with
- Right (Landguard Wing) Battery with two 6-inch BL Mark 2 and one 10-inch BL Mark 3 in 1901.
- Left (Landguard Wing) Battery with one 6-inch HP and one 10-inch HP in 1891. Increased by another 6-inch HP in 1899.
- Darell’s Battery built between 1900 and 1901 with two 4.7-inch Q.F. Guns.
Harwich was designated as a Class C Commercial Harbour by the Home Ports Defence Committee, later the Home Defence Committee with defences to resist block ships and unarmoured cruisers.