18th Century Cannon?

Judgement Day

Just spotted this cannon lying outside the Castle Museum in Enniscorthy. It looks like it has been dug out of the undergrowth during renovation work as it certainly wasn't on display before the museum closed. Any clue as to its possible age, origin and technical information? A six pounder perhaps from the late 1700's?? Should there be markings on it?

Fratton Fred

There is usually a manufacturers mark on them.

How big would you say that is, it looks quite short.

johnny_doyle

last time I visited Enniscorthy Castle it was shut. Hopefully open again now?

Attached are some photos from my family album from the front of the Castle.

Judgement Day

Supposed to open again this Easter. When were your pics taken?

johnny_doyle

black and white picture was taken in 1966/67 when we were down from Dublin visiting the Gt Granny (she lived in Solsborough). Colour pic was taken 2002/3 when we were over for a holiday.

We were last over in 2008 I think; the 1798 Centre and the castle were both shut on the day we ventured to Enniscorthy and I keep hearing that it's "undergoing renovation".

Judgement Day

I think it was about 1967 that I first visited Enniscorthy Museum and the next time was in 2001 and not even the cobwebs had changed!

Fratton Fred - if it helps, I ran a tape measure over the cannon tonight and it comes in at 48 inches long with a 5 inch diameter to the muzzle.

Judgement Day

Hello lads - If this was the Nature & Birdwatching Forum I would have had an answer to a query hours ago. 136 views and nothing.

Fratton Fred

It might be worth dropping a line to the royal armouries. If you're ever in the Portsmouth area by the way, fort nelson is well worth a visit.

Judgement Day

I was told today by somebody who knew something of the cannon's history that it may be a naval gun known as a 'sail shredder'. Still no military expert on here?

Morpheus

its a short enough barrel at 48 inches

4 foot 5 inch cannon

i thought it might be a falconet but these were the same calibre ( i think) but usually an 8 foot barrel, the mounts look fairly far forwards, wasnt this usually a sign it was mounted on a carriage? checked a few websites but hard to find a four foot barrel with a 5 inch calibre. short barrel means slower projectile which if it hits the side of a wooden ship would probably cause massive splintering - anti personel and also would have a wider spread for grapeshot etc which matches judgement days comments above.

again im no expert, just have a passing interest in all things that have barrels and shoot stuff.

a cromwell era cannon anyone?

maybe a naval gun taken for use on land in the 1798 rebellion?

johnny_doyle

some info re the standardisation of cannon ball sizes which might give a clue :

http://arc.id.au/Cannonballs.html

The Pounden family from Ballywater and Enniscorthy had a foundry in Enniscorthy that used to manufacture church bells and artillery pieces.

There are a few cannons on display around Co Wexford : Gorey, Rosslare and Duncannon. The ones at Duncannon look similar but longer. Rosslare one looks very different. The Gorey ones are carriage mounted and might be lighter/smaller bore.

Stovepipe

Hi there,
I thought shipborne guns and land-based guns had different kinds of lugs/handles/rope sockets. It looks quite big to me, to be a wheeled field gun. It might be a fixed position gun for a fort or castle. As for identity, does it have any crests or casting marks near the flame hole?
regards
Stovepipe

johnny_doyle

the position of the trunnion that we can see (the bit sticking out the side) suggests that this cannon is the right way up - the trunnion being below the centre line. So no lugs/dolphins on this cannon.

some examples of 1798 British cannons with no lugs/dolphins :

http://hamptonroadsnavalmuseum.blogspot.com/2010/07/1798-cannon-now-on-display.html

http://www.jss.org.uk/cw/Charles_Waterton/orinoco-adventure-great-mouth.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarge_schultz/1673104098/

and a bit earlier :

http://www.gunstar.co.uk/Antique-Cannon/British-made-Pair-17th-Century-6-Pounders-gun-for-sale-gs2946.aspx

Morpheus

re the naval cannon suggestion.... there should be a rope socket at the rear of the cannon, that is if breeching rope was used to attach it to the ships structure to prevent the recoil from rolling the cannon backwards across the gun deck of the ship.

Judgement Day

Morphéus wrote: »

re the naval cannon suggestion.... there should be a rope socket at the rear of the cannon, that is if breeching rope was used to attach it to the ships structure to prevent the recoil from rolling the cannon backwards across the gun deck of the ship.

If you click on this link: http://countywexford.blogspot.com/2011/04/enniscorthy-totters-on.html and then click on the cannon picture to enlarge you can see a ring at the rear of the cannon - sorry for the poor quality. I'll try and get another later - if it's still there!