The crenellated guardhouses of the 1846 model (corps de garde crénelés modèle 1846) were gun-batteries built along the coast of France as the result of a standardisation of coastal-defence redoubts during the reign of Louis Philippe I. This standardisation came as an attempt to complete the defensive chain begun by Napoleon in 1811 with his model towers, left incomplete on his abdication in 1814. A mixed coastal armament commission set up in 1841 defined 3 types of work, known as crenellated guardhouses, crenellated towers and model-redoubt with defensive barracks.[1] Along with the construction of the battleship La Gloire, they represent part of a 20-year trend of French naval and coastal re-armament, to which the United Kingdom eventually responded by building its own steam battleship (Warrior) and its own coastal defence chain (the Palmerston Forts) during the 1860s.

The Crenellated guardhouse in Camaret-sur-Mer.

Crenellated guardhouses

Around 150 crenellated guardhouses were built.[2]

1

This sub-type accommodated 60 men and 12 cannons.

2

This sub-type could house 40 men and 8 cannons.

3

This sub-type could house 20 men and 4 cannons.

Crenellated towers

Square in plan, buildings of this size were slightly pyramidical in shape.

1

2

3

This sub-type housed 20 men and had two murder holes sticking out from either side. This sub-type's particular feature was its 4 levels (underground level, two levels of barracks, and a terrace on top).

Model redoubts with defensive barracks

The model-redoubt is a fort built over a defensive barracks. The barracks is vaulted and thus bomb-proof. Sub-type 1 housed 300 men, and sub-type 2 housed 200 men.

References

All in French unless otherwise noted.

  1. ↑ Fortifications littorales : les réduits de batterie de côte modèle "1846" ou modifié modèle "1846–1861" et casernes défensives, sur l'inventaire général, http://patrimoine.region-bretagne.fr/main.xsp?execute=show_document&id=MERIMEEIA29002284 Archived 1 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, consulté le 16 juin 2011
  2. ↑ "Index de la fortification francaise 1874 – 1914". Retrieved 30 September 2008.
  3. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Camaret-sur-Mer, Petit Gouin(le), Corps de garde crénelé n° 2 modifié, année "1859" et batteries haute (4 canons G de 95 mm en 1900) et basse". Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  4. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Crozon, Ile de l'Aber, Corps de garde crénelé n° 2 modifié, année "1862"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  5. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Crozon, Pointe de Morgat, Beg Ar Gador ou pointe du Kador, Corps de garde crénelé n° 2 modifié, année "1861"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  6. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Crozon, Postofort, Postolonnec, Corps de garde crénelé n° 2 modifié, année "1860"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  7. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Le Conquet, Îlette de Kermorvan (l'), Corps de garde crénelé n° 2, année "1847"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  8. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Le Conquet, Pointe de Kermorvan, Corps de garde crénelé n° 2, année "1846"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  9. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Plougonvelin, Pointe Saint-Mathieu, Corps de garde crénelé n° 2, année "1854"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  10. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Ploumoguer, Pointe(la), Entre Brenterc'h et Illien, Corps de garde crénelé n° 2, année "1851"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  11. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Crozon, Morgat, Rulianec, Corps de garde crénelé n° 3, année "1861"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  12. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Ile-de-Batz, Pointe Sud-ouest, Corps de garde crénelé n° 3, année "1862"". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  13. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Le Conquet, Plage des Blancs Sablons, Nord, Corps de garde crénelé n° 3, année "1859"". Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  14. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Ouessant, Calgrac'h, Corps de garde crénelé n° 3, année "1862" et batterie". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  15. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Ouessant, Loqueltas, Corps de garde crénelé n° 3, année "1862" et batterie (rectangulaire)". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  16. ↑ Inventaire général du patrimoine culturel. "Roscanvel, Bourg, Corps de garde crénelé n° 3 et batterie". Archived from the original on 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
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