Inchkeith, Fort No.3

NT28SE 1.03 29567 82295

For later gun battery remains see NT28SE 5.03

The 19th century fort No.3 is situated at the S end of Inchkeith. Extensive subterranean stone built magazines and accommodation rooms. A datestone "VR 1880" is carved in the stone archway over the sloping entranceway.

The entrance arch over a sloping roadway leads down into a rectangular courtyard, the E side of which had three entrances to rooms the windows of which are arched with brick. On the W side of the courtyard is a sloped entrance stairway which leads down to the courtyard and on to a corridor under the present No.1 gun emplacement and eventually to the corridor and stairs to the S rock cut ditch and caponier

At the SE end of the row of rooms is another arched entrance in this case to a tunnel which leads through to another courtyard below No.2 gun emplacement of A group battery. From this courtyard a curved flight of steps rises up the the gun pit of N.2 gun and from the W side, a tunnel which leads to the N rock cut ditch and caponier.

The surviving remains of the 19th century Fort No.3 are extensive and there are places where it is difficult to distinguish between the 19th century structures and the later 20th century additions. The extensive use of brick in the lower sections may date from the 19th century, but equally may be additions and infilling from the later periods.

Visited by RCAHMS (DE, AL), 25 February, 4th and 5th March 2009