When Were Blockhouses Invented?

Blockhouses were an ubiquitous feature in Malta's coastal fortifications built in the 18th century by the Order of St. John. Between 1714 and 1716, dozens of batteries and redoubts were built around the coasts of the Maltese Islands, while a few others were built in the subsequent decades.

What did the British use blockhouses for?

They were built to protect important maritime approaches such as the Thames Estuary, the Solent, and Plymouth. Often sited in pairs, the blockhouses were not built to a common design, but usually consisted of a stone tower and bastion or gun platform, which could be semi-circular, rectangular or irregular in shape.

What were blockhouses used for?

Blockhouses are small, strongly-built defensive structures, often built in forward positions. Designed to house guns and protect gunners and their ammunition from attack, they were used from the late 14th to mid-17th centuries.