Fort William, India

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Fort William
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Fort William, a view from the inside, c. 1828
Fort William is located in Kolkata
Fort William
Fort William
Coordinates22°33′28″N 88°20′17″E / 22.5577°N 88.3380°E / 22.5577; 88.3380
TypeFortress, garrisoned and armoured Army Headquarters.
Site information
Controlled by
Site history
Built1696–1702
In use1781–present
Battles/warsBattle of Plassey (1757)
Garrison information
GarrisonEastern Command

Fort William is a

River Ganga. One of Kolkata's most enduring British-era military fortifications, other than those in Bombay (Mumbai) and Madras (Chennai
), it extends over an area of seventy hectares.

The fort was named after King William III.[1] In front of the Fort is the Maidan, the largest park in the country. An internal guard room became the Black Hole of Calcutta. Today the fort is the headquarters of Eastern Command of the Indian Army.

History

Main article: History of Kolkata
A view of Calcutta from Fort William (1807)
Plan (top-view) of Fort William, c. 1844

There are two Fort Williams. The original fort was built in the year 1696 by the

Indian Ordnance Factories was established in 1775 at Fort William.[5]

Today, Fort William is the property of the Indian Army. The headquarters of Eastern Command is based there, with provisions for accommodating 10,000 army personnel. The Army guards it heavily, and civilian entry is restricted.[4]

Much of Fort William is unchanged, but St Peter's Church, which used to serve as a chaplaincy centre for the British citizens of Kolkata, is now a library for the troops of HQ Eastern Command.

A war memorial has been created at the entrance of the fort, and the fort also houses a museum which displays artifacts from the

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, especially those related to the battles in the Eastern sector and the Bangladesh Liberation War.[6][7]

First Indian Masonic lodge

In 1730, Ralph Farrwinter and other members of the

Grand Lodge of England in 1717.[8][9]

Presidency of Fort William

Main article: Bengal Presidency

Structure

The Fort is built of brick and mortar in the shape of an irregular octagon with an area of 5 km2 (1.9 sq mi). Five of its sides face landward, and three towards the

enfilade (or flanking) fire against any attackers reaching the walls. There are six gates: Chowringhee, Plassey, Calcutta, Water Gate, St Georges and the Treasury Gate. There are similar forts at places like Thalassery in Kerala.[10][full citation needed
]

Gallery

  • Fort William, 1735
    Fort William, 1735
  • Fort William, by Jan Van Ryne, 1754
    Fort William, by Jan Van Ryne, 1754
  • Fort William, Calcutta, 1756[11]
    Fort William, Calcutta, 1756[11]
  • First English Chapel, Fort William, Calcutta. Raised in 1714, with contribution of Rs. 1000 by the East India Company (p. 197, March 1824)[12]
    First English Chapel, Fort William, Calcutta. Raised in 1714, with contribution of Rs. 1000 by the East India Company (p. 197, March 1824)[12]
  • St Peter's Church, Fort William by William Prinsep 1835
    St Peter's Church, Fort William by William Prinsep 1835
  • Fort William, River Face 1786 (from a coloured engraving by Thomas Daniell).
    Fort William, River Face 1786 (from a coloured engraving by Thomas Daniell).
  • The interior of the Arsenal, Fort William by William Prinsep 1835
    The interior of the Arsenal, Fort William by William Prinsep 1835
  • Fort William by Samuel Davis
    Fort William by Samuel Davis
  • Main entrance, Fort William 2013
    Main entrance, Fort William 2013
  • South gate, Fort William 2013
    South gate, Fort William 2013
  • St. Peter's Church, Fort William, Kolkata
    St. Peter's Church, Fort William, Kolkata
  • Semaphore Tower, Fort William, Kolkata
    Semaphore Tower, Fort William, Kolkata
  • Main Gates of Fort William
    Main Gates of Fort William

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fort William (Kolkata).
  1. ISBN 9781902669595
    .
  2. ^ Sudip Bhattacharya, Unseen Enemy: The English, Disease, and Medicine in Colonial Bengal, 1617 – 1847, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 30 Jun 2014, p.54
  3. ^ "Fort William Kolkata India - History of Fort William". www.makemytrip.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  4. ^
    ISBN 81-230-1002-8
    .
  5. ^ "History | Directorate of Ordnance (Coordination and Services) | Government of India". Ddpdoo.gov.in. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Memories of 1971 Bangladesh War come alive in Army museum". Economic Times. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Indian Army to throw parts of Eastern Command HQ open for public". Economic Times. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 25 December 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  8. OCLC 7288589062. Archived
    from the original on 28 March 2021.
  9. ^ Joseph F. G. Golder. Freemasonry in British India (1728–1888). Archived from the original on 28 March 2021.
  10. ^ Nandakumar Koroth, History of Forts in North Malabar
  11. ^ Grant, James (1873). British Battles On Land and Sea. Vol. II. Cassell & Company, Limited. p. 69.
  12. ^ "The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle". The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. 94 (1): 197. February 1824. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
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