Engineers, soldiers and townspeople
Who designed, built, guarded and lived in star forts.
The engineers
Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban lived from 1633 to 1707 and was a military engineer of King Louis XIV. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Fortifications of Vauban Vauban served Louis XIV for 53 years. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban
Vauban travelled the equivalent of 4,000 kilometres a year for sieges and building work. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Vauban
In 1558 Mary I sent the engineer Sir Richard Lee to Berwick to replace the medieval walls with bastioned fortifications. English Heritage: History of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts
Sir Bernard de Gomme drew up plans for Tilbury Fort in 1668, and work began in 1670. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort
When the Spanish Armada was expected in 1588, an Italian engineer, Federigo Gianibelli, designed earth-and-timber defences with angles for crossfire around the Tudor blockhouse. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort
Palmanova’s main designer was General Giulio Savorgnan. italia.it: Palmanova
Lieutenant-General William Skinner designed Fort George and was its first governor. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort George, history
Goryokaku Fort in Hakodate, Japan, was designed by Takeda Ayasaburo and influenced by Vauban. Japan National Tourism Organization: Goryokaku Fort
Soldiers and garrisons
Tilbury’s barracks housed around 186 soldiers. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort
Fort George had room for a 1,600-strong infantry garrison and more than 80 guns. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort George, history
Berwick’s Main Guard had a soldiers’ room, an officers’ room and a cell for drunken soldiers and deserters. English Heritage: History of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts
Vauban designed barracks for soldiers, who until then had often been lodged with local people. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Bastioned fortifications
Fort George is still an army base, home of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort George, history · checked 3 Nov 2026
Gunpowder
In 1757 almost 8,500 barrels of gunpowder were stored at Tilbury, more than anywhere else in Britain. English Heritage: History of Tilbury Fort
Fort George’s magazine held 2,672 barrels of gunpowder. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort George, history
Berwick’s Powder Magazine, a gunpowder store with its own walled enclosure, was built in 1749 to 1750. English Heritage: History of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle and Ramparts
Towns inside the walls
The town was divided into 48 blocks around a central parade ground; 34 were for the 4,000 people who lived there. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Neuf-Brisach
At Neuf-Brisach the barracks were built against the ramparts to protect the townspeople. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Neuf-Brisach
Vauban built nine new towns; four are still almost intact: Longwy, Mont-Louis, Mont-Dauphin and Neuf-Brisach. Network of Vauban’s Major Sites: Bastioned fortifications
Palmanova’s central square, Piazza Grande, is hexagonal (six-sided). Visit Palmanova: The Fortress City
After an English attack in 1702, the Castillo was the only structure in St Augustine to survive the fire. US National Park Service: Castillo de San Marcos (article) During an English siege the Castillo once sheltered over 1,500 people for 51 days. US National Park Service: Castillo de San Marcos, construction
Flags, songs and pets
Major George Armistead had a 30 by 42 foot garrison flag raised over the fort. US National Park Service: The Bombardment of Fort McHenry, part 1
Francis Scott Key watched the bombardment and wrote the poem that became “The Star-Spangled Banner”. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry “The Star-Spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States in 1931. US National Park Service: History of Fort McHenry
Fort George has a dog cemetery, one of only two in Scotland, for regimental mascots and officers’ pets. Historic Environment Scotland: Fort George
Next: visiting & spotting →