One of the surviving Batteries in Shannonbridge - built at the same time as the Batteries in Athlone - looks remarkably similar to the fortifications at the summit of the Battery hills as I remember them
Artillery battery
From Wikipedia
In military science, a battery is a unit of artillery guns, mortars, or rockets, so grouped in order to facilitate battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion. The term is also used in a naval context to describe groups of guns on warships.
On land, batteries are usually grouped in larger units sometimes called battalions, which are further grouped into regiments or brigades, which may be artillery or combined arms.
Historically the term 'battery' referred to a group of 'guns' in action, typically besieging a fortress or town. Such batteries could be a mixture of types of guns, howitzers or mortars. A siege could involve many batteries. The term also came to be used for a group of guns in a fixed fortification, for coastal or frontier defence, and for the placement of guns in a temporary field position during a battle. During the 18th Century 'battery' started being used as an organizational term for a permanent unit of artillery in peace and war. By the late 19th Century this use had become normal and mostly replaced earlier terms for artillery units such as company or troop.
Interesting website on the Martello towers of Ireland, built during the Napoleonic era, at the same time as the batteries of Athlone:
http://www.martellotowers.ie/
It was during this period that the massive batteries were built, of which little trace now remains. They were designed to accommodate guns and gun crews. The gun emplacements were strong redoubts and provided a wide traverse for each artillery piece. Since the threat was expected to come from the west, the guns were sited to meet an attack from this direction. They were made from large limestone blocks, with subterranean rooms as magazines and billets. It is not recorded whether a single shot was ever fired from any of the guns. River line defence in those days was always sited forward on the water obstacle and defended from that side. Our modern military river line defence has changed radically since those days. The defenders today base their forces far behind the river using the river as an obstacle.
(from The Story of Custume Barracks, Athlone 1697-1974
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=J2m4vWeEqPg
The Batteries in 1900
The Batteries in 1960
The Batteries in 2008
No. 1 Battery
Some eight batteries were constructed in a defensive system on the west side of Athlone between 1803 and 1817 against the impending threat of French invasion. The gun emplacements were linked by sunken pathways. Most of the eight batteries were demolished in the later 19th and early 20th century, and so only Battery No. 1 at the northern extremity survives today, located at Ranelagh, on the east side of the canal. The battery consists of a ditch and two ramps forming two concentric tetrahedral rings. The battery is orientated with the three short sides facing north-west, enabling aim to cover the north-west of the town and the bank of the Shannon. It has been given its own RMP number (11) and is therefore protected. The battery remains as the last visible element of the Napoleonic defences of the town, and it is a small but significant example of Napoleonic defences, very similar in form to the small redoubts built by Wellington on the Lines of Torres Vedras, just north of Lisbon, Portugal. It also illustrates the importance of the role of Athlone in the defence of Ireland. This site, and the others, have considerable archaeological potential for standing and buried remains.
Thebattery is a solitary feature, with no immediate visible link to the rest of the town’s historic monuments and is therefore vulnerable.
The battery and surrounding area should be tidied, through gardening, etc and a display panel erected,indicating its purpose and role in Athlone’s history. In the tidying of the site, archaeological artefacts might be uncovered and could add to the information on the battery. Information should be provided at the Athlone Visitor Centre about the battery and how to reach the site.
Nos. 2 to 7 Batteries
Some eight batteries were constructed in a defensive system on the west side of Athlone in 1803-17 against the impending threat of French invasion. The gun emplacements were linked by sunken pathways. The batteries are located on Gallows Hill, to the west of the main West Town. Most of the eight batteries, built of earth and stone, were demolished in the later 19th and early 20th century. Batteries 2-6 were included within the golf course and have largely disappeared, though the site and outline ofNo. 5 can still be located at Fort Hill in Baylough, as can No. 6 just west of the canal at Battery Bridge, and No. 7 in the boundaries south of Patrick Street.
The Batteries are protected under the RMP number for Athlone Town.
The Batteries remain as part of the Napoleonic defences of the town. They also illustrates the importance of the role of Athlone in the defence of Ireland. The sites of the lost batteries have considerable archaeological potential for standing and buried remains.
The Batteries have been built over by a housing estate, but may be partially preserved below the ground. Certainly, they are evident in the contours of the area, and in some property boundaries.
The housing estate could have a plaque or display panel to show how the orientation of the streets preserves the outer limits of the Batteries. Information should be provided at the Athlone Visitor Centre about the Batteries and how to reach the site.
Map of the Batteries, 1834
No. 8 Battery
The site of the southern-most battery to the south of the West Town, constructed between 1803 and 1817.
The battery was the southern-most defence erected between 1803 and 1817. It was located on the east side of the canal, aproximately 600m from the town centre. It was removed by 1805 but was shown on the 1837 OS map as having the form of two concentric tetrahedrons, similar to that of No. 1 Battery.
The battery is protected under the RMP number for Athlone Town.
The battery formed part of the Napoleonic defences of the town. They also illustrates the importance of the role of Athlone in the defence of Ireland. The sites of the lost batteries have considerable archaeological potential forstanding and buried remains.
The battery has been built over, but may be partially preserved below the ground.
Extract from Conservation Plan for Athlone Town Walls and Defences
http://www.westmeathcoco.ie/media/insidefinal.pdf
No. 1: The remains of a battery built between 1803 and 1817
The whole of the troops of Athlone garrison, consisting of Artillery; two squadrons 4th Light Dragoons, and 8 companies 31st Regt. also, the local Pensioners of the district commanded by Capt. Ormsby, were reviewed in the capacious barrack square of the garrison on Thursday and performed several manoeuvres much to the satisfaction of Major-General Weymas commanding and a numerous assemblage of spectators.
The band of the 4th Light Dragoons under their able director, M. de Ven, and that of the 31st Regt, under Mr. Weisbecker, are engaged performing on the batteries of Athlone, on Sundays and Wednesdays, much to the amusement of the gentry assembled.
Ballina Chronicle Wednesday August 1, 1849
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=c3HvxvylWsc#
The Battery Bridge - The Canal
The bridge is a good vantage point from which to survey the site of the batteries and the canal. The original bridge of masonry construction was designed by Thomas Omer, the engineer responsible for the cutting of Athlone Canal in 1757. The Athlone Canal marked the first attempts to make the River Shannon fully navigable at Athlone. It was the mid nineteenth century before this actually happened, with the completion of the Shannon Navigation works.
The Batteries
Looking towards the buildings that once were high rise developments we see the site of the main Batteries. Because of the strategic position of the Athlone, one of the principal crossing points of the middle of the Shannon, it was realised towards the end of the eighteenth century that the defenses of the town should be provided.
Following the outbreak of war with the French Republic in 1793 and the attempted landing of the French at Bantry Bay in 1796, a total of eight Batteries were constructed on the western edge of Athlone. All but a small portion of the No.1 battery have been destroyed. So while little remains to be seen the place itself is steeped in history and the name the Batteries is applied to an area which was formerly called Spa Park.
This was also the location of the original Athlone Golf Club originally known as Athlone Garrison Golf Club. At this time the land in the Batteries was poor with restricted grass growth and was seen as an ideal place to play golf. Quick to realise this, the officers of the garrison formed a club and laid out a golf course. According to the Golfing Annual published in 1896 the Athlone Garrison Golf Club was founded in 1892. This is the only evidence available.
There are no records of the 'founding fathers'. It was with the arrival of Major Harrison of the Royal Artillery in Athlone in 1895 that the Athlone Garrison Golf Club really started to prosper. He was appointed President of the club in 1896 and held that post until 1899. An enthusiastic golfer, he played a vital part in the nurturing of the game in those years.
It is of interest to note that many of the townspeople who were to play important roles in the golf club in the ensuing years were at this time (1893/94) actively associated with various sports organisations in the town. These included Mr. Baile MA, P.V.C. Murtagh, J. Lyster JP, Dr. C. J. McCormack, J. J. Coen and others. Along with the golf course the Batteries was also a place of general recreation, but all of this was to come to an end when the death knell was sounded at the October 1913 meeting of the Urban District Council. The clerk announced that theagent had agreed to the council acquiring the interests of the golf club - compulsory powers would be used and the price fixed, plans were being prepared. The councillors had at lastbeen successful in their campaign for housing on the Batteries. In 1920 the golf club relocated to Garnafailagh. In 1938 the golf club made its last move to Hodson Bay where it is still located.
(extract from Athlone Tourist Trail booklet, 1985)
 General Sir John Moore in Ireland " In 1798 he was made Major-General and served in the suppression of the republican rebellion raging in Ireland. His personal intervention was credited with turning the tide at the battle of Foulksmills on 20th June and he regained control of Wexford town before the ruthless General Lake, thereby possibly preventing its sacking. Although the rebellion was crushed with great brutality, Moore stood out from most other commanders for his humanity and refusal to perpetrate atrocities." (General Sir John Moore)
|
No comments:
Post a Comment