What is recorded here

Cobh is an island town in County Cork, Ireland, transformed from a small fishing village into a major naval and shipping port. British forts, an artillery barracks on Spike Island, and Atlantic crossings shaped its rise, while Queen Victoria temporarily renamed it Queenstown in 1894. The sea gave Cobh its identity: a place where fishing, empire, war and wandering all met at the edge of Cork Harbour.

'At the end of the 18th century Cobh was described as a small fishing village consisting of 'a few scattered houses'. Its subsequent rise to prominence arose from its convenient, island location, for shipping in Cork Harbour. It also benefited from the erection of Camden and Carlisle forts and by the construction of an artillery barracks on Spike island. It remained a British naval base until 1937 and was the principal base of American naval forces in European waters during the First World War. The Cork Ship 'Sirius', the first steamer to cross the Atlantic, sailed from here in 1838. In the 19th century the town developed a reputation as a winter resort and in 1894 on the occasion of a royal visit from Queen Victoria the name of Cobh was temporarily changed to Queenstown.' (Zajac et al. 1995, 35) Compiled by: Archaeological Survey Unit, UCC. Date of upload: 20 January 2010

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