Mersea Fort, 16th-century artillery fort in East Mersea, England.
The triangular fortification contains three circular bastions positioned at each corner, with earthwork walls extending approximately 300 feet in length.
King Henry VIII ordered the construction of Mersea Fort in 1543 as part of the Device Forts program to protect England from French and Holy Roman Empire invasions.
The fort served as an admiralty court location overseeing the regional oyster trade until operations moved to Colchester's Moot Hall in the mid-18th century.
Archaeological excavations conducted between 2002 and 2003 revealed the remaining earthworks of the original defensive structure near the current sea wall.
The fort maintained a garrison of five military personnel and six artillery gunners who controlled the strategic River Colne approach to Colchester.
Location: East Mersea
Inception: 1543
GPS coordinates: 51.79674,1.00343
Latest update: March 3, 2025 11:47
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St Osyth Pit
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