Time Frame: A sentinel of history

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So thoroughly have some of the country’s monuments been restored that it took several phone calls and emails to establish that this was, indeed, Fujairah fort.

Shown here in the early 1970s. the castle soon after underwent one reconstruction, followed by a more sympathetic restoration that was completed in 2009. An early structure was first built at the end of the 14th century, then rebuilt on a larger scale in 1650.

Over five centuries, the fort has defended Fujairah against successive waves of invaders, from Persia, Portugal and the Netherlands. The dilapidation visible in this photograph owes something to the ravages of time, but also to the Rule of Britannia in the last century.

In 1925, in a dispute over slavery, the gunboat HMS Cyclamen was dispatched to the Arabian Sea to bombard the ruling sheikh into line, partly demolishing one of the towers with shell fire.

*James Langton