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PLACE: Chulachomklao Fort
LOCATION: The fort is located at the mouth
of the Chao Phraya River in Tambon Laemfarpha, Phra Samut Chedi
District, seven kilometres from Phra Samut Chedi on Sukswasdi
Road.
OPENING HOURS: Open daily 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
ADMISSION: free
Click for map and satellite
pictures |
The Phra Chulachomklao Fortress, or Paknam Fort,
was built in 1893 on the west side of the Chao Phraya River at
the entrance to the estuary. The following is a report of a visit
to the Paknam Fort in June 1893, by Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns,
General Adviser to the King:
"For a long time we inspect the considerable work on
the fort which, by its position, commands the river mouth
and approximately a mile and a half of its course. There are
seven brick towers, each equipped with a heavy caliber Armstrong
gun. The masonry is completed. It only needs to be covered
with a casing of earth and grass.
A mile into the sea there is a target on which they fire
three shots with one gun and two with another. The charge
of each shot is from 25 to 30 pounds of powder. The guns are
hidden. They are hauled up by a hydraulic mechanism at the
moment of the aiming and they disappear by themselves after
the shot. The sight of this big, sly machine which ambushes
and takes aim like a brigand to hide immediately thereafter,
has something ferocious about it."
The following month, on July 13th 1893, a skirmish took place
between two French ships and the garrison manning the fort.
Both sides suffered casualties. Although a smaller ship which
was acting as a pilot boat for the French ships was badly damaged,
the gun-ships still successfully bypassed the fort and other
Thai gun-ships and made it up-river to Bangkok.
The seven Armstrong guns only saw action that one time. However,
they are still in good working order as they fired a seven gun
salute to celebrate their 105th anniversary in 1998. The fort
is now open to the public. Below a statue of King Rama V there
is an interesting museum about the conflict with France. Also
on show to the public is H.T.M.S. Maeklong, a warship commissioned
from the Japanese shipyards, pre-World War II. The ship was
in service for 60 years, including duty as a royal ship for
King Rama IX.
Entrance to the park is free, though it is best to arrange
your own transport. The fort is located at the mouth of the
Chao Phraya River in Tambon Laemfarpha, Phra Samut Chedi District,
seven kilometres from Phra Samut Chedi on Sukswasdi Road. It
is best to arrange your own transport from Phra Samut Chedi. |
