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  1. Military Archaeology

Fort Perch Rock - New Brighton

Fort Perch Rock at New Brighton was constructed in in the mid-1820s to defend the River Mersey and the Port of Liverpool.

Fort Perch Rock is a coastal defence battery built between 1825 and 1829, with the foundation stone being laid in 1826. The fort was built on an area known as Black Rock, and was cut off at high tide However, coastal reclamation has made it fully accessible.
Since decommissioning in the 1950s it has passed through several owners and traded as a museum though it has not been open to the public since 2016.

The Fort covers an area of about 4,000 square yards (3,300 m2), with enough space for 100 men. It was built with red sandstone from the Runcorn quarries. The height of the walls ranges from 24 feet (7.3 m) to 32 feet (9.8 m), and the towers are 40 feet (12 m) high. At one point it was armed with 18 guns, of which 16 were 32-pounders, mounted on platforms. It was nicknamed the 'Little Gibraltar of the Mersey'.

The foundation stone reads:
This foundation stone of the Rock Perch Battery, projected by and under the direction of John Sikes Kitson, Esquire, Captain in the Royal Engineers, for the defence of the port was laid on 31st March 1826 by Peter Bourne, Esquire, Mayor of Liverpool in the 7th year of the reign of His Majesty George IV. His Grace, the Duke of Wellington , Master General of the Ordnance.

The projected cost of building was £27,065.0s.8d. Kitson ensured that this budget was not exceeded, finishing the fort for a total cost of £26,965.0s.8d.

After decommissioning it was opened to the public by the Royal Artillery Association as a Museum from 1955. In 1958 it was sold by auction to local fairground operator Tommy Mann, famous for the narrow-gauge railway which operated in New Brighton Tower grounds, and business partner T. Kershaw for £4,000.

Unfortunately, during this period many interesting fittings including brass ware was stripped and sold. In 1976 Fort Perch Rock was sold to Norman Kingham who undertook a lot of restoration work supported by the Manpower Services Commission and volunteers.

The fort was operated as a museum / tourist attraction and events venue until 2016 when apparently maintenance problems led to its closure to the public.
Read More
  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock seen on a blustery day near high tide. Until the building of coastal defences in the 1980s the causeway leading to the fort was covered at high water. The white building on the west tower was constructed during World War II as an observation post and radar monitoring facility.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    A closer view of the West Tower with its World War II lookout and radar monitoring building. The twisted banner "Save of Marine Lake" was on display as there was a threat to the nearby Marine Lake from a proposed retail development. However, the Marine Lake was saved and the development constructed on the old open air swimming pool site.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Detail of the entrance gateway. At this time the fort was open to the public as a tourist attraction. Unfortunately it has been closed since the end of the 2016 due to maintenance issues.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    The landward - south facing side of Fort Perch Rock seen at high tide and showing the new causeway constructed to replace the tidal causeway which cut the fort off at high tide.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    View of Fort Perch Rock from the south west at high tide.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    The west tower and radar / obsrvation post at high water.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    This high tide view shows how the fort can become surrounded by water at high tide.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Waves breaking on the glacis wall which faces out into Liverpool Bay and Crosby Channel.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - March 12, 2005

    View of the fort from near the Pier lifeboat slipway at high tide.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - April 05, 2012

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - April 05, 2012

    Fort Perch Rock and New Brighton Lighthouse photographed from Fred Olsen Lines MS BALMORAL on her 2012 Titanic Memorial Cruise to Belfast from Southampton which had called st Liverpool.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - September 29, 2012

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - September 29, 2012

    Fort Perch Rock and New Brighton Lighthouse viewed from The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company's MANANANN.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - October 13, 2012

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - October 13, 2012

    View of Fort Perch Rock and Perch Rock Lighthouse from the River Mersey.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Approach to Fort Perch Rock, The white structure on the east tower (right) is a search light housing installed just after the end of the First World War.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    South side of Fort Perch Rock from the beach at low water.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Entrance and observation post / radar building which dates from World War II. The link from the approach ramp was originally made by a draw bridge, traces of which can still be seen.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    The East Tower showing the searchlight housing installed just after the end of the First World War.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    One of the lower level search light positions overlooking the Mersey. This structure once had a canopy which has since collapsed as a consequence of wave action and corrosion.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    One of the lower level search light positions overlooking the Mersey. This structure once had a canopy which has since collapsed as a consequence of wave action and corrosion.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    East elevation of Fort Perch Rock showingthe east tower seach light housing left installed in 1919 and the later accommodation block.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Close up of the heavily corroded low level search light emplacements which could project a beam of light across the Mersey.

  • Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    Fort Perch Rock, New Brighton, Wirral, Merseyside - May 10, 2020

    East elevation of Fort Perch Rock showing the east tower seach light housing left installed in 1919 and the later accommodation block.

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