Wichien Chodok Fort: A River-Mouth Defense in Samut Sakhon
Site at a Glance
- Country
- Thailand
- Primary era
- Modern
- Eras represented
- Modern
- Civilizations
- Unclassified
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Fort
History
Wichien Chodok Fort is a nineteenth-century Siamese fort at the mouth of the Tha Chin River in Samut Sakhon, Thailand, built in the Rattanakosin style during the reign of King Rama III. It was intended to protect the river entrance from a possible Vietnamese naval invasion amid tensions between Siam and Vietnam involving Chao Anouvong, ruler of the Lao kingdom of Vientiane.
An earlier fort stood at the river mouth during the reign of King Narai of Ayutthaya. In the late seventeenth century, a French ambassador returning to France by sea described its brick walls, which rose about 10 feet, and a fighting tower equipped with small guns and brass cannons. The guns fired a welcoming salute when the ambassador arrived.
Rama III ordered Wichien Chodok Fort as part of a broader plan to build defenses at strategically important river mouths. A senior official was appointed to oversee its construction.
Thailand’s Fine Arts Department manages the fort and registered it as an ancient monument in the late twentieth century.
Remains
Built of brick and mortar, the fort is in the Rattanakosin architectural style. Its stated height is 3 metres, or approximately six cubits, and its width is a little over one cubit. Surviving wall sections extend along the north, south, and west sides; the western side adjoins the Tha Chin River. Some parts were removed to create a passage through the fort.
The walls have openings about 5 metres wide, with a cannon stationed at each one. Each cannon bears a British royal crown emblem, the letters “G R,” and the inscription “BACON.” The fort’s fighting towers were elevated defensive positions. Its remains lie within an area that also contains a public park and a Thai city pillar shrine, which houses a ceremonial pillar associated with a city’s founding and protection.
