The First Landguard Fort, 1625–1720

Abstract

The first permanent fort on Landguard Point, one of the few early Stuart forts in England, was built in 1625–30 to protect Harwich Haven, in response to a renewed Franco-Spanish threat. It was a low, bastioned fort of shingle revetted with turf and timber, shielding brick buildings. In the 1660s, Harwich was refortified to the designs of the engineer Sir Bernard de Gomme, with Landguard repaired and strengthened by a brick wall. In July 1667 its garrison repulsed an attack by 1,500 Dutch marines and a powerful squadron of warships.

Plans for extended defences are revealed in a drawing for an outwork across the peninsula, in de Gomme's hand, and repairs in the 1680s included two curtain walls. A survey in 1708 reported that Landguard was too small and its confined site precluded outworks. In 1716 Lt John Brookes recommended its replacement in response to the Jacobite threat. The fort was demolished in 1717 and a new one built by 1720.