Green End Fort

Overview

When It Was Active: 1778-1780
Occupied By: Britain, France, and the U.S.
Built By: French (1770's)

Area

This historic landmark is tucked away in a small residential area. The small park is well landscaped and serves as a nice little retreat. The large redoubt on the Eastern face is built up high enough to see far over Middletown and the nearby Green End Pond. Parking is very limited, and you will have to be careful parking on the side of the road.

Construction

This redoubt style fort is the largest earthen built fort within this guide. Built on the hill overlooking the Eastern side of Easton’s Pond, the large redoubt walls are thicker and taller than the other forts. Providing protection to the North, East, and South, the fort was clearly designed to prevent a naval attack from the nearby waterway. There is also a very steep embankment on the Eastern face of the fort. One uncharacteristic trait of this base is that it lacks any visible remains of bastions.

Strategy

Like many of the other forts, elevation plays a key role in the strategic importance of this location. The steep embankments make any straight on attack much more difficult. Back during the time it was active, all of the surrounding land was field and farmland, providing an unobstructed view of the surrounding area. Today, this historical landmark is hidden among residential houses and is largely overgrown. The larger walls of this fort seem to be able to withstand artillery fire from any threatening naval fleets.

Narrative

The fort was named Green’s End Fort because it was originally believed to be constructed by the British in 1788. However, in 1976, engineer Kenneth Walsh discovered that Green’s End Fort was not built on Vernon Avenue after reading a journal from a British Officer. Green End’s Fort is actually on the opposite side of Easton’s Pond. The misidentified Green End’s Fort is, in fact, Redoute de Saintonge constructed by the French around 1781. The Newport Historical Society has grants and plans to replace the signage for the fort, however, it has yet to be installed.

Picture revealing what the fort looked like without the vegetation present today.

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