 Its seven casemates initially accommodated rifled breech loading guns, which were replaced by the turn of the century by more powerful breech-loaders on disappearing carriages, mounted in concrete wing batteries on either side of the fort.It was likely one of the smallest of the forts constructed as a result of the 1860s invasion scare.All of the guns were removed by 1912, though the fort continued in use during the First World War as a command post.