Cotton Fort

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Cotton Fort was a small fortification in Melcombe, now part of the town of Weymouth, Dorset. No trace of the fort exists today.

Melcombe Regis human settlement in United Kingdom

Melcombe Regis is an area of Weymouth in Dorset, England.

Weymouth, Dorset Town in Dorset, England

Weymouth is a seaside town in Dorset, England, situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey on the English Channel coast. The town is 11 kilometres (7 mi) south of Dorchester and 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of the Isle of Portland. Weymouth has a metropolitan population of 71,083 (2016). The town is the third largest settlement in Dorset after Bournemouth and Poole.

Contents

History

The fort was likely constructed during the reign of Henry VIII of England, although others suggest it may be Elizabethan. [1] It took the form of a rampart, with three cannon mounted. [2] It was constructed to the north of Melcombe, which these days is south of Weymouth railway station, but a lack of detail makes it impossible to trace the exact location. [3] [4]

Henry VIII of England 16th-century King of England

Henry VIII was King of England from 1509 until his death in 1547. He was the second Tudor monarch, succeeding his father Henry VII. Henry is best known for his six marriages, in particular his efforts to have his first marriage annulled. His disagreement with the Pope on the question of such an annulment led Henry to initiate the English Reformation, separating the Church of England from papal authority. He appointed himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England and dissolved convents and monasteries, for which he was excommunicated. Henry is also known as "the father of the Royal Navy"; he invested heavily in the Navy, increasing its size greatly from a few to more than 50 ships.

Elizabethan era epoch in English history marked by the reign of Queen Elizabeth I

The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The symbol of Britannia was first used in 1572, and often thereafter, to mark the Elizabethan age as a renaissance that inspired national pride through classical ideals, international expansion, and naval triumph over Spain. The historian John Guy (1988) argues that "England was economically healthier, more expansive, and more optimistic under the Tudors" than at any time in a thousand years.

Rampart (fortification) length of bank or wall forming part of the defensive boundary of a fortification

In fortification architecture, a rampart is a length of bank or wall forming part of the defensive boundary of a castle, hillfort, settlement or other fortified site. It is usually broad-topped and made of excavated earth or masonry or a combination of the two.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Hutchins, John (1774). History of Dorset. 2 (1973 EP Publishing facsimile of 1861 3rd ed.). p. 455 – via Gatehouse Gazetteer.
  2. ↑ Ellis, George Alfred (1 January 1829). The History and Antiquities of the Borough and Town of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis. B. Benson. p. 187. ISBN   9781146432801.
  3. ↑ Pinder, Claire (February 2011). "Weymouth and Melcombe Regis historic towns survey". www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk. Dorset County Council. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Pastscape - Detailed Result: COTTON FORT". www.pastscape.org. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.

Coordinates: 50°36′58″N2°27′08″W / 50.61613°N 2.45224°W / 50.61613; -2.45224

Geographic coordinate system Coordinate system

A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are often chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position and two or three of the numbers represent a horizontal position; alternatively, a geographic position may be expressed in a combined three-dimensional Cartesian vector. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation. To specify a location on a plane requires a map projection.

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