Watch House Battery

Watch House Battery is a former 19th-century gun battery, built as one of a number of batteries to defend the Eastern approaches to Plymouth Sound, for the defence of the Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport.

Watch House Battery
Devon
England
Watch House Battery is located in Devon
Watch House Battery
Watch House Battery
Coordinates50°19′27″N 4°6′56″W
Site information
Open to
the public		No
ConditionComplete; disarmed
Site history
Built1864-1865; Rebuilt 1901-1904
MaterialsEarth
Concrete

The battery was originally built as a small pentagonal redoubt with emplacements for five guns. By 1893 it was armed with two 64 Pounder Rifled Muzzle Loading Guns. In 1901 the battery was reconstructed for two 6-inch Mark VII breech loading guns with the work being completed in 1903.[1] During the First World War the battery was manned by the Devonshire Royal Garrison Artillery.[2]

After the Second World War the battery remained armed until the dissolution of coast artillery in the United Kingdom in 1956 when it was disarmed.[3] It was released by the military and subsequently used as a children's activity centre for some years.[4] It was Grade II listed in 1969.[5]

References
  1. Maps and Plans, Watch House Battery 1904-40, The National Archives, WO78/5058
  2. Col K W Maurice-Jones, 1959. The History of Coast Artillery in the British Army, Royal Artillery Institution, London, p187
  3. Fort Record book, Watch House Battery 1901-53, The National Archives, WO192/292
  4. https://www.victorianforts.co.uk/pdf/datasheets/watchhouse.pdf
  5. Historic England (27 February 2014). "Staddon Height Defences (1002585)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2018.

Bibliography
  • Hogg, Ian V (1974). Coast Defences of England and Wales 1856-1956. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153 6353-0.
  • Woodward, Freddy (1996). The Historic Defences of Plymouth. Cornwall County Council. ISBN 978-1898166467.

External sources
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