Survey Data
Reg No
20911216
Rating
National
Categories of Special Interest
Archaeological, Architectural, Historical, Social
Original Use
Store/warehouse
Date
1540 - 1560
Coordinates
164889, 49796
Date Recorded
25/06/2009
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Freestanding irregular-plan three-bay two-storey blockhouse, built c.1550, redesigned in 1677 and recently rebuilt as store. Comprising D-plan former battery to seaward (north-east) side with the landward (south-west) side defended by two demy-bastions. Magazine with small entrance room to western bastion and platform to southern bastion. Formerly flat-roofed with rubble limestone chimneystack. Rubble limestone walls throughout. Camber-headed window openings having rubbed yellow brick voussoirs. Square-headed loop openings having internal chamfers. Camber-headed door opening having rubbed yellow brick voussoirs and recently inserted exposed timber lintels. Square-headed door opening to magazine, leading to camber-headed interior door opening having limestone rubble voussoirs. Vaulted roof to magazine and entrance bay.
Appraisal
This blockhouse is the only upstanding remains of a shore-level battery situated approximately 200m north-east of James's Fort. A covered passageway leads down from the fort to the blockhouse on the water's edge. It was originally built c.1550, redesigned by Lord Orrery in 1677 and contained a shore-line battery of at least eight guns and a magazine. Constructed on a rock outcrop which projects into the harbour this structure was ideally located for defensive purposes. Together with James Fort and Charlesfort, located to the south-east, it forms part of group of fascinating fortifications.