Fortress Britain

    Although many books have been written about the medieval castle and its development, this is the first complete survey of British artillery fortifications, utilizing modern historical and archeaological findings.

It traces the earliest modifications to accomodate firearms in the castles of the late Middle Ages, follows the emergence of a national defence policy under Henry VIII, and examines coastal defence works in the centuries when Britannia supposedly ruled the waves. A chapter is devoted to the particular requirements of the political situations in Scotland and Ireland, another to the monumental forts of the 1859 Royal Commission, and the narrative concludes with a section on coastal defence during two world wars.

While it is comprehensive and fully documented, Fortress Britain is also highly readable and illustrated throughout with a superb collection of photographs, contemporary plans and diagrams. Finally, its value as a work of reference is enhanced by an extensive Gazetteer, giving details of every site accessible to the public in Britain and Ireland.

The book is illustrated with HUNDREDS of photos, plans, drawings and maps.