Fort Matilda is a suburb at the far western edge of Greenock, Scotland, Its name comes from a coastal battery built on Whiteforeland Point 1814–19 to defend the River Clyde.[1]

The Fort Matilda area of Greenock, with the River Clyde behind
In 1862 the Confederate paddle steamer Iona I collided with the Chanticleer and sank off Fort Matilda. There was no loss of life. The site of the wreck is designated as a Historic Marine Protected Area.[2]

Fort Matilda Station
The suburb is served by Fort Matilda railway station which was built for the Caledonian Railway in 1889.[1][3]
In the 1890s the fort was renovated to support a minefield which had been built offshore, and refurbished again in 1902–04.[1] A Royal Naval Torpedo Factory was opened in Fort Matilda in 1910–12 which was designed to be the principal centre of torpedo manufacture and development in Britain.[4] The fort was demolished shortly before to World War II[1] and the factory closed in 1951 when production was moved to Alexandria.[4]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Fort Matilda". Gazetteer for Scotland. http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst17227.html. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
- ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Iona I (HMPA8)". https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/HMPA8.
- ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Fort Matilda Railway Station (LB34174)". https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB34174.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Historic Environment Scotland. "Eldon Street, Former Torpedo Works at Fort Matilda Industrial Estate (Category B Listed Building) (LB50579)". https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB50579.
Coordinates: 55°57′32″N 4°47′43″W / 55.9589°N 4.7953°W
The original article can be found at Fort Matilda and the edit history here.