Le fortin de la guerre des Sept ans
The fort of the Seven Years' War.
In 2009 we walked from Neville to Réthoville along the beach and we found this old fort, but did not know its history.
Le fortin de la guerre des Sept ans
Le fortin de la guerre des Sept ans
The fort of the Seven Years' War
On the beach at Réthoville was built a fort by the French to fight the English.
It was built in 1756 when the Seven Years' War broke out. During this conflict the Cotentin was constantly "harassed" by privateers looking like fishing boats. These boats penetrated all the inlets and their crews seized all that they found on the spot. When it was built, this fort was more than 30 meters after the high seas and 5.64 meters above sea level. It was part of a set of at least five forts built on the Cotentin coast. to protect themselves from these corsairs. It was equipped with two cannons served by the inhabitants of the municipalities bound to military obligations as part of the coastguard companies. The living conditions in these forts were very uncomfortable because of the humidity.
In 1830, designs on coastal defence evolved and armour was given away to these batteries, which were too expensive to maintain and guard. It was left abandoned. In the 1970s, this fort was still habitable. It was bought by Jacques Colette, a Parisian who after making a few arrangements, came to spend his holidays. But with the constant and inevitable assaults of the sea that nibbles the beach and successive storms, the fort has not resisted and is now in ruins.
Le fortin de la guerre des Sept ans
The Seven Years War (1756-1763), well I thought I would be clever and try quickly to explain the Seven Years War. Well it cannot be done, so please Google it.
The war was fought all over the world, but mainly in the Americas. But to local French Normans who lived in this area it must have felt as though they were on the front line.
Le fortin de la guerre des Sept ans
Le fortin de la guerre des Sept ans
Le fortin de la guerre des Sept ans
© 2013 Richard Drew