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Fort Griswold
State Park Master Plan Groton,
Connecticut |
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Master Plan Drawing by Moriece & Gary, Inc. |
Fort Griswold State Park is the site of the Revolutionary War
era Fort Griswold and the location of the Battle of Groton Heights. Built
high above the east side of the Thames River on Groton Heights, the original
Fort commanded views of the harbor at New London and the surrounding
countryside. The Fort, as originally
built, was somewhat square with protecting fortifications on two corners. The
lower walls were faced with stone and topped with a barrier of cedar pickets
projecting outward and an earthen wall with openings for cannon. A tunnel-like sally port led to a covered
ditch ending in a battery for cannon southwest of the Fort, and the gate at
the north end was protected by a V-shaped earthen mound. A barracks for 300 men and a magazine were
located in the fort. The fort was in
good condition and the magazine was full in 1781. Considered an important northern supply
center for the "rebels", the British, under the command of Benedict
Arnold, attacked the town and harbor of New London by surprise and burned
most of the town. The British also attacked Fort Griswold with a force of 800
men. The ensuing Battle of Groton Heights ended in defeat for the
Americans. The British attempted to
destroy Fort Griswold after the battle, but were not totally successful. In
1830 a granite monument was erected on the site dedicated to the men had who
had defended Fort Griswold, and in 1881 the monument's height was increased
to 134 feet. The monument and a small
museum are located within the existing Park area, along with remnants of the
old Fort. The Connecticut Bureau of Parks and Forests wished to develop
the Fort Griswold State Park property into a "living history" park,
where visitors could experience the importance of this colonial military
defense and the Battle of Groton Heights.
They also wished to tell the story of the site and surrounding land
from the prehistoric times throughout the years and wars, and of the brave
people who molded this free country. Thomas Mayo Associates/ Architects & Urban Designers acted as the architectural consultant to the Project
Team, led by Moriece & Gary, Inc., for the preparation of the Master Plan
for the Fort Griswold Historic State Park.
TMA conducted an existing conditions survey of the buildings located
at the Fort Griswold site in order to gain a general assessment of the
condition, size and existing uses of the buildings adequate for developing
alternative master planning approaches for the Park. Thomas Mayo Associates
also prepared conceptual level designs and cost estimates for the Park’s
Visitor Orientation Center/ Interpretive Museum. For more information on Ft. Griswold, please visit http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/fort_griswold.htm |
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