Access is not possible to the east wing vaults, the top of the main tower, basement, caponier and ditch.
Construction took place between 1804 and 1808 although it was modernised in the 1860's when the outer caponiers were added.
Type C has a separated caponier with two cupolas.
Flanking chambers built into the inner wall of the ditch provided covering fire across the face of each caponier to prevent the enemy laying charges to destroy them.
These lead to the barrack block and caponiers with stairs to the mortar batteries and chemain de ronde.
Visitors are encouraged to examine the tower's architectural features including the four caponiers at its base which protect the dry ditch.
The left and right caponiers covered the area extending from the flanks to the back of the fort.
At right, the redoubt has opposed caponiers or ‘flanking angles’ designed to allow the defenders to fire into the ditches.
Access to caponiers was by iron hatchway.
This is the view from the north caponier along the curtain wall, made of flint reinforced with brick.
It is protected by a broad wet ditch, and in the caponiers are the magazines and store chambers of the fortress.
The east and west ditches are enfiladed by small, two storey demi caponiers whilst the main ditch is covered by a full caponier.
The caponier changed its form and grew to great importance in the nineteenth century, as I will explain later.
Contemporary drawings show that the cookhouse was badly cracked as was the barracks and one of the caponiers had completely detached itself.
The overall design of each battery was that of an irregular pentagon surrounded by a deep ditch, which was enfiladed by three caponiers and a counter-scarp gallery.
It was impossible to enter or even get near the gorge and caponiers for vegetation.
The ammunition for the guns was kept near artillery caponiers in separate ammunition magazines.
Fort Nelson was to be armed with four of these guns in the main north caponier and two in each of the demi caponiers.
I can safely state that this was the standard armament of caponiers for guns on traversing platforms.
The caponiers and bunker system have been well preserved thanks to the northern climate.
Origin
Late 17th century: from Spanish caponera, literally 'capon enclosure'.