Fort (in Ruins) — Report the wrong picture

What is recorded here

Bryan's Fort stands on a steep incline above Castle Haven bay, built around 1650 by Colonel Richard Townsend as both home and weapon. Its four corner bastions still throw shadows across the bay, though two have fallen and the wall walk has lost most of its parapet. Gun loops pierce every tower, and the southeast and southwest bastions open wide enough for cannon to fire directly at the water. The fort survived repeated attacks in 1690, but time has done what no enemy could: it has erased the roof, the doors, and the life that moved through them.

On top of a steep incline on S shore of Castle Haven bay; known as 'Bryan's Fort'. Built as fortified dwelling by Colonel Richard Townsend c. 1650 (Kerrigan 1980, 12). Remains of square enclosure (int. L 8m) with bastion-shaped projections at each corner; NW and ES bastions partially collapsed; quite overgrown. Poorly preserved gable on E wall, with doorway and fireplace at 1st floor level; no return gable on W wall and unlikeley if entire structure roofed. Ground floor linteled door in W wall; just inside is flight of stone steps rising to SW corner, giving access to wall walk (Wth 0.9m) along S wall- most of parapet fallen; doors from wall walk to SE and SW bastions. All bastions of two floors except SE. Numerous gun loops in all towers at 1st floor level; SE and SW bastions, which overlook the bay, each have a pair of large opes, for cannon. The fort was subject to a number of attacks in 1690 (Townsend 1937, 35-9) The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 1: West Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1992). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009

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