PFS map
Scotland
History
The mediaeval royal castles of Scotland, Edinburgh, Stirling and Dumbarton, and the feudal castles of Kilchurn and Dunstaffnage began to loose their importance
with the arrival of the gun in the 16th century. While some attempts were
made to modify existing castles at Roxburgh and Eyemouth, and Threave
Castle was purpose built to handle gunnery, the first true forts in
Scotland were the Cromwellian forts built after his
New Model Army invaded in 1650. After the Restoration, Charles II could not
afford their upkeep and their garrisons were disbanded and the forts
slighted between 1660 and 1662.
The Glorious Revolution of 1688 brought the protestant William and Mary
to the throne and started the Jacobite movement, supporters of James II.
The 120 strong Catholic garrison of Edinburgh
Castle held out to an 800 strong protestant army for 3 months in 1689, but
succumbed to disease rather than gunfire. Viscount Dundee launched the
first Jacobite rising that year, but it was swiftly crushed, and the main
consequence was the rebuilding of the Cromwellian fort at Inverochy,
becoming Fort William, and the upgrading of Kilchurn castle by a protestant Campbell to rival it.
After the 1715 rising of the English strengthened their garrison system
based on control of Inverness and Fort William at
either end of the Great Glen. They built 4 infantry barracks, at Ruthven, Bernera, Inversnaid and Kiliwhimin, though the last
was superseded in 1724 when General Wade instructed John Romer to build
Fort Augustus there, together with Fort George near Inverness.
After Culodden General Wade set about controlling the Highlands in a
brutal manner.
Mediaeval Castles
Edinburgh
Dury's plans in 1708 to introduce a elaborate defence on the Castle's east
side were abandoned as unfeasible, but he did build Butts and Dury's
Batteries on the west and south sides, and an upper battery near Foog's
Gate (demolished for the New Barracks of the 1790's). His Queen Anne
barrack block survives. More details here.
See Wikipedia
See Wikipedia
See Wikipedia
Cromwellian Forts
Built at Ayr, Perth, Inverness, Inverlochy and Leith, each fort was a
different shape and size, but all were built to according to the latest
military thinking, typically a pentagonal bastioned system. Little remains
of them today. Inverlochy was subsumed into Fort William, just the gateway
of Leith and a clock tower in Inverness survive. Perth has entirely
vanished, so the best remains are in Ayr, with the seaward flank preserved.
Jacobite Defences
Fort William
See Wikipedia
Ruthven Barracks
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See Wikipedia
Fort Augustus
See Wikipedia
Fort George
The first Fort George was built near Inverness by John Romer in 1724. After
Culloden a much larger fort was needed, so it was relocated to the Ardesier
promontory, 9 miles east of Inverness. It is a bastioned fort with a very
large ravelin on the landward side, intended as a barracks for 1600 men as
well as artillery. It is a superb example of 18th century fortification,
and very well preserved, used both as an army barracks and a Historic Scotland
museum.
Corgarff tower-house
A 16th century tower-house in a magnificent setting in the wilds just north
of Braemar, it was converted into a garrison post in 1748 within a
loopholed bastion-like wall. Owned by Historic Scotland, it has a small but detailed museum of its
life and times. Some more information.
TBD. See PFS map
To defend the naval anchorage, various batteries were built, including one
at South
Soutor