Construction of the Redoubt Fortress
Construction of the Redoubt Fortress was handled by William Hobson with work starting in 1804 and continuing until 1810. Five million bricks were shipped on barges down the east coast from London for the fortress. The Redoubt is made up of 24 Casemates placed in a ring 220 feet in diameter; it is surrounded by a moat 25 feet wide by 24 feet deep but due to the Redoubt standing on shingle the moat could never be filled. The only entrance was across a bridge which linked the gun platform with the inland face of the fortress.
The sea facing side is protected with a layer of shingle mixed with cement to help the building to survive cannon fire from enemy ships. The interior of the fortress is on two levels, the upper being the gun platform and the lower accommodation for up to 350 soldiers.
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