Clifford's Fort, Military fort in North Shields, England
Clifford's Fort is a stone fortification at the mouth of the River Tyne featuring robust walls and a three-story redoubt designed for harbor protection. The site includes a riverside gun battery and now houses the Old Low Light Museum, which displays exhibits about maritime activities and coastal defense.
The fort was built in 1672 during the Anglo-Dutch Wars and initially held about 30 cannons for harbor defense. It operated under Tynemouth Castle's command until 1839, when it became independent as the port grew in importance.
The site held significance as a fish processing hub, showing how military spaces became part of the working harbor. Visitors can observe the traces of this shift from defense to industry in the layout and structures that remain.
The site is easily accessible from the street and has mostly flat pathways that make it comfortable to explore. Plan time to visit the museum and walk around the structures to get a full sense of the place's layout and history.
From 1888 to 1928 the fort served as headquarters for submarine miners who deployed underwater explosives to defend the harbor. This unusual use of the fortification shows how coastal defense adapted to new military technology.
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