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FORTRESS STUDY GROUP
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ISSN 1367-5907 |
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The Spanish Main figures strongly in this issue, partly by request and partly by happy chance; there is an article by Ian Stevenson and three book reviews. We also have a report from a Singapore fort being unearthed, a fort used as a plague laboratory and a report on our Brittany Tour by Steve Butler.
Please Note:
When submitting material via email, CD or floppy, please always send illustrations as separate attachments, preferably in Jpeg format, never in the text.
Charles Blackwood, Editor.
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Chairman: David Bassett, 11 Fordwell, Llandaff Village,Cardiff CF5 2EU. Email: dave.bassett@ons.gov.uk
Secretary: W H Clements, 6 Lanark Place, London, W9 lBS.
Treasurer: T H Bell, 12 Castle Close, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE3O 3EP.
Editor of FORT: Dr. Gordon Barclay MA, PhD, MIFA, FSA, FSA Scot., 5 Derby Street, Edinburgh, EH6 4SQ. Email: gordon@barclaygoring.fsnet.co.uk
Editor of Casemate: Charles Blackwood, Braemont, Cilcain Road, Pantymwyn, Mold, CH7 5NJ. Tel: 01352 741556, Email: charles@braemont.freeserve.co.uk
Librarian and Reviews Editor: G Dowdall-Brown, 1 Pelican Lane, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1NU. Email: dbrupert1@btopenworld.com
Webmaster: Richard Clisby, email: richard.clisby@btopenworld.com
Our Website address is www.fsgfort.com Please send contributions to, and questions on, the website direct to Richard.
2007. Orkney & Shetland (Doreen Grove) dave.bassett@ons.gov.uk
2008, 2009. to be decided. possibly N. Wales and Thames/Medway.
2007. April 14-22:Eastern Germany, start at Berlin. (Hans-Rudolf Neumann; hrv.neumann@t-online.de )
2008. May: Slovenia.(Aleksander Jankovic Potocnik)
Sep: Germany; Annl. Conf.; Assoc Vauban; Henri Ribière; henriribiere@wanadoo.fra
Oct 8-9: Châteaux de Joux, France; Congress; IFF; Regis Berger; fort@villey-le-sec.com
Oct 8-13: San Francisco; Ann. Conf; CDSG; John Martini; jamartini@earthlink.net
Oct 13-15: Luxembourg; Tour; Assoc Vauban; Henri Ribière; henriribiere@wanadoo.fra
Oct 27: Les Invalides, Paris; Ann. Meeting; IFC; Carlos Scheltema; carlos@scheltema.org
Nov 4: Prague, Czech; Ann Conf; Czech Assoc of Mil Hist; Vladimir Kupka; kupkav@sazka.cz
2007: March 14-18: Harpers Ferry area; Ann. Conf; Civil War FSG; TBA; info@cwfsg.org
2007: Apr 18-22: Boston, USA; Ann. Conf; CDSG; Gordon Bliss; gblisscdsg@msn.com
(Thanks to Terry McGovern for list. Ed.)
TIME TO RE-FOCUS?
The Fortress Study Group (FSG) was established in 1975 to provide an opportunity for those interested in fortifications and military architecture to meet, get to know one another, publish their work and bring fortifications to the public.
I believe that we have succeeded in our original aims:
Membership has increased to over 600, representing more than 30 countries worldwide, with membership drawn from architects, historians, members of armed forces as well as professional institutions and those with a casual but enthusiastic interest.
Our publications FORT and Casemate have been nurtured and developed by their editors and are now regarded as high quality publications.
FSG has, both singly and collectively, actively supported the recording and preservation of fortifications and, just as importantly, tried to raise public awareness of this less glamorous cousin of the mediaeval castle.
We can continue as we are, if members are content to do so. But any organisation needs periodically to reassess its aims and objectives, and the means of achieving them, and maybe it is now time to have a rethink.
We should build on our success; but how should we do this? How can we use our collective expertise, interest and enthusiasm more effectively for the greater good of fortifications? FSG is the only society that covers the study of fortifications worldwide. Our strength is the sum of the expertise and enthusiasm of our international membership.
We could ask ourselves some questions. Should we:
be expanding our remit to cover all defence structures in their landscapes, not just fortifications?
operate more as a pressure group using Casemate and our web pages as campaigning tools on behalf of fortifications at risk, plus actively encouraging our far flung membership worldwide to notify us of such forts at risk?
establish, with permissions, a confidential databank of members specialisms / expertise so these could be used for the greater good of fortifications; FSG as a centre of fortification expertise?
encourage Universities, and armed forces to set up modules and courses relating to fortification issues?
promote the setting up of an annual UK fortification forum to provide researchers, recorders, and the many societies and institutions involved with the preservation and display of fortifications with an opportunity to meet and discuss common issues and hear key lectures on appropriate subjects?
Be more pro-active in seeking younger membership. Bernard Lowry's new Shire publication Discovering Fortifications from the Tudors to the Cold War should have wide appeal. The Defence of Britain project sparked a lot of youthful interest. What else can we do? How can we encourage younger members to join the committee?
Is this the sort of thing members would like to do and be part of, or should we continue as we are? What I and the committee would appreciate are responses by email and letter giving us your views on the advantages or otherwise of any potential changes to the society, and how you could assist. All societies go through lean or difficult patches and the FSG is no exception. New activities will not deflect us from our current focus, particularly the publication of the missing issues of FORT.
We need a lively, thriving, effective FSG. How shall we achieve it?
David Bassett.
It a great pleasure to record that husband and wife Carlos Scheltema and Elizabeth Scheltema-Vriesendorp have both been honoured as Knights of the Order of Orange-Nassau, the Dutch equivalent to UK's Order of the British Empire (OBE). Our warmest congratulations. Both are leading members of the Stichting Menno van Coehoorn and FSG members of long standing; Carlos is currently Secretary-General of the International Fortress Council, and the involvement of both in matters fortification particularly their home town of Naarden in the Netherlands, has been long and intensive. The award was made by the Mayor of Naarden, J P Rehwinkel, on 28 April 2006, who spoke of their passion and drive in the cause of fortifications for and within Naarden and its Vestingmuseum in particular, and internationally as well. Carlos was instrumental in the setting up of 'Workgroup Vesting 1968', forwarding knowledge of the art of fortification and Elizabeth's 'Fortress Day' initiative gained a Europa Nostra award in 1975. They deserve the thanks of future generations.
They have contributed greatly to the study and preservation of fortifications and the honour is richly deserved. Editor.
Information from
Margaret Pinsent.
Due to a problem at the printer, several mistakes appeared in FORT 2005.
On p6 the caption to the bottom picture is incomplete and should read: (Drawn by W R Constable).
On p33 half of the final chapter note is missing. The full note should read:
On p168 the top line of the second column is actually the second line of the note that appears at the bottom of the left hand column - it has accidentally got turned over.
Steve Dent.
SWEATSHIRTS with embroidered FSG badge. These are very nice - buy one to promote FSG with our logo, not some silly designer label! Available only from John Kemp, 28 Albert street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1HL
Tel: 01856 873190 email:embroidery@johnkemp.co.uk, www.orknet.co.uk/scapa/jkemp.htm
Made by a well-known firm, the sweatshirts come in a very wide range of colours and sizes, price £17.50 + p&p.
FSG BADGES for lapels, caps and hats are available from: Alistair Graham Kerr, The Thatched Cottage, Whitchurch Hill, Nr Pangbourne, Reading RG8 7PE, UK.
Cost £1; please send self addressed envelope, and in UK, 6 x 2nd class stamps as payment and postage.
