Scheduled MonumentsScotlandFort Charlotte,Lerwick
Lerwick

Fort Charlotte,Lerwick

Scotland
HES SM90145
Site type
Lerwick
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Fort Charlotte is a star-shaped artillery fortress built in Lerwick during the seventeenth century to defend Shetland's strategically important harbour. Constructed between 1665 and 1667 following Dutch raids on the islands, the fort exemplifies the military architecture of its period with its distinctive angular bastions designed to provide comprehensive fields of fire for cannon defence. The structure was garrisoned by English troops and subsequently served as a prison and barracks through subsequent centuries. Today the substantially intact fortification remains one of Scotland's best-preserved examples of seventeenth-century coastal defence architecture.

Fort Charlotte,Lerwick is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90145. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Fort Charlotte,Lerwick?

Fort Charlotte is a star-shaped artillery fortress built in Lerwick during the seventeenth century to defend Shetland's strategically important harbour. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM90145.

Who is responsible for protecting Fort Charlotte,Lerwick?

Fort Charlotte,Lerwick is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM90145.

What other scheduled monuments are near Fort Charlotte,Lerwick?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including The Knab, coastal battery, 150m S of War Memorial (1.1 km), The Knab, fixed torpedo platform 130m NE of (1.1 km), Clickimin Broch,broch and settlement (1.3 km).

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