Phra Sumen Fort

Terrain

General Condition

Phra Sumen Fort is located on Phra Thit Road. and along the Chao Phraya River on the east side (Phra Nakhon side) At present, Phra Sumen Fort has been well maintained. Area surrounding the fort a park Santichaiprakarn Park It is a place for recreation of the people.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Chao Phraya River

Geological conditions

Holocene sediments

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Archaeological age

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

Phra Sumen Fort was built because of His Majesty King Buddha Yodfa Chulalok the Great. When he ascended to the throne as the first king of the Chakri dynasty in 1782, he was graciously pleased to to dig a ditch for the construction of the city wall The Grand Palace and the Bowon Sathan Mongkhon Palace in 1783, during the construction of the walls of the Grand Palace, a fortress was built to protect the city from time to time. Around Bangkok, 14 forts are Phra Sumen Fort, Yukonthorn Fort, Maha Prap Fort, Mahakan Fort, Mu Luang Fort, Suea Thayan Fort, Mahachai Fort, Chakphet Fort, Butterfly Fortress, Mahareek Fort, Mahayak Fort, Phrachan Fort, Phra Athit Fort. and Fort Isinthorn (The Fine Arts Department 2021)

All these forts line the canals around the city and the Chao Phraya River. which he asked the people to make some new bricks and to dismantle the bricks of the city wall of Ayutthaya It also enlisted 5,000 Laotians in Vientiane and had a badge for the governor of the city. Throughout the towns of Laos along the Mekong River on the west side together By dividing duties to control the people, dig the roots, build walls around the city and build a fortress periodically around the city. Today, most of these forts have been demolished. Since the end of the reign of King Rama I, these forts have been demolished to use the area for other governmental purposes. especially during the reign of King Chulalongkorn Siam has urgently entered the period of national improvement. part of the country's development is improvement of transport routes By constructing bridges, cutting roads and many buildings, many fortresses had to be demolished. Forts downed to increase construction area, leaving only 2 forts, Mahakan Fort and Phra Sumen Fort (The Fine Arts Department 2021)

Phra Sumen Fort It is a brick and mortar fort located on a 2-storey base facing the Bang Lamphun Canal. It is a 2-storey fortification. The lower base has 3 stairs up from the fort in front of the wall, but now there are 2 stairs left because the stairs on the other side are too close to the roadside, so they were smashed out. The corner pillars of the stairs were cement pillars. There is a pillar in the shape of a glossy grain head above the stairs, 1 pillar per stair (Department of Fine Arts, 2021).

If viewed from the top of the fort, it can be seen that the lower fortress is divided into 2 parts with a pointed parapet wall between the walls. Lower and upper turrets There is an exit door leading to the front of the fort in front of the lower fortress. There is a large square-shaped parapet wall located on a 3-tiered base, each with several small cross-foot holes or crosses, between the parapets is a cannon stand. Like the 2nd tier wall, the 2nd tier wall has pointed parapets on every side of the fort. Doors and windows with square holes The fort's roof is dome shaped. It is a plastered wooden frame like the Mahakan Fort. As for the tower, it is a hectagon shape with 2 doors and 4 windows. From the outside of this section there is a staircase leading up from the back to the second section of the fort. The floor of this fortress is made of wood. Doors and windows with square holes The fort's roof is dome shaped. It is a plastered wooden frame, similar to Fort Mahakan (Department of Fine Arts, 2021).

In 1999, the government wanted to develop the area around Phra Sumen Fort, which encompasses the central office, the (old sugar factory), Sri Maharaja Company, and Phra Sumen Fort. to make a park and tabernacle This is an activity project in honor of His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of his 6th cycle birthday on December 5, 1999. Archaeological excavations have the main objective. is to examine the system of foundation structure of Phra Sumen Fort and to use the information obtained for the restoration of Phra Sumen Fort and the fort in Santi Chai Prakan Park area.

Important archaeological evidence

from archaeological excavations resulting in knowledge about the structure of Phra Sumen Fort as follows:

1. Foundation Structure of Phra Sumen Fort

Broken Brick Compaction System

The walls of Phra Sumen Fort are similar to the construction of the city wall. Build a wall on both sides Then leave the middle channel as a gap and use broken bricks to compress it. The lower floor will be filled with small broken bricks and use broken bricks that are larger than the filling in the upper part.

Fillment system

Found using the inverted triangular tubercle as a line on the next layer and then placed it in alternate orientations. Then use compacted soil
in the gap between each jar to reduce the weight that is pressed This is a technique that appears in the document that this technique was first used during the reign of King Rama IV. in the construction of the Grand Palace at Wat Ratchabophit and Wat Ratchapradit From the excavations of many areas found that The use of this jar does not appear in all positions, it is assumed that this filling should be used only in the area. or to be repaired later This was done especially in the area where the western fortification platform had subsided.
which is next to the Chao Phraya River

2. Characteristics of the fort

The original floor of the 1st floor platform located at a depth of 1 meter from the current floor Later, the floor was covered with planks. The platform of the 2nd tier and the 3rd tier of the fortress in the past were wooden

In 1971, in this area a fire spread to Phra Sumen Fort, causing the tower to collapse. This fire event was related to the black soil layer spread throughout the area from the excavations at the 1st platform platform.

The 3rd floor tower And the second floor of the fortress floor is something that was reconstructed during the restoration in 1981 - 1982, based on photos of the time when Phra Sumen Fort was in perfect condition to be used for restoration.