with thanks to the National Maritime Museum of Ireland
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This was clearly not part of the original Napoleonic defences, as the pier was not started till 1817 and not finished till 1859. The photo is currently dated at 1896 which is close to the time the British Military were selling off the Martellos and Batteries to anyone who would buy them. Before they were sold off most, if not all, of the metal, including the cannon were removed. However, the photo is of great value for showing, for example, the cannon mounted on a timber traversing carriage in the loading position and the gun tilted downwards We can also tell that it was not a freezing cold day as the balls are still on the brass monkey (81 of them on my count). On the left, under the small slated roof, you can just about make out the rammer, cleaner and raking out rod, used to load and clear the cannon at firing time. The East Pier battery had 6 32 pounder cannon and 3 68 pounders, one officer, 24 rank and file and 230 barrels of powder. That complement would increase enormously in the event of the battery seeing any real action. The original Napoleonic defences had two emplacements in what is now the harbour area. On the east side, there was a Martello Tower in what is now The People's Park and an accompanying Battery on the nearby seashore where the Baths used to be. At the other end, on the west side, there was a Martello Tower and Battery in the vicinity of the railway bridge at the old coastguard cottages. |