LIVING history was made at Fort Perch in New Brighton this afternoon when the One O'Clock Gun was fired from the building for the first time.
It’s 46 years since a cannon was last fired, on a daily basis, from Bidston Observatory and in tribute, the booming sound will be heard at the fort each day this week.
Around 20 people stood well back and watched as the fuse was lit and the cannon fired this afternoon.
Awaiting order to fire the One O'Clock Gun at Fort Perch Rock this afternoon. Picture: Paul Heaps
Preparing to fire the One O'Clock Gun at Fort Perch Rock this afternoon. Picture: Paul Heaps
Afterwards, fort owner Doug Darroch told the Globe: "It's very much living history – replicating what happened for around 100 years up until the 1960s, with the setting of the clocks with the ships for one o’clock.
"It's good for the children's holidays and people enjoy seeing a cannonball fired."
Preparing to fire the One O'Clock Gun at Fort Perch Rock this afternoon. Picture: Paul Heaps
From 1867 to 1969 a cannon situated at Morpeth Dock in Birkenhead was fired remotely from Bidston Observatory at one o'clock each working day, triggered by a specially-adapted clock.
Awaiting order to fire the One O'Clock Gun at Fort Perch Rock this afternoon. Picture: Paul Heaps
The cannon would be fired so that chronometers could be set on ships.
On the dockside, the cannon, a relic of the Crimean wars, was loaded, and at 12.30pm each working day a member of staff tested the connection between the clock at the Observatory and the cannon.
At one second to one o'clock the switch would be thrown at the Observatory, the firing being triggered by the next swing of the clock's pendulum.
On clear days the cannon's flash could be seen across the Mersey.
In 1969 Bidston Observatory was taken over by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), amd it was decided to discontinue the tradition of firing the One O'Clock Gun on the grounds of efficiency.
Preparing to fire the One O'Clock Gun at Fort Perch Rock this afternoon. Picture: Paul Heaps
Fort owner Doug Darroch continued: "The cannon was never fired from the fort as it would have too far from the dock system so a more central location was chosen, near the big vent at Woodside, so it was nice to be create our own piece of history at the fort."
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