Well, this was a surprise visit, had been at Mt Edgcumbe with SWMBO , son and surrogate daughter, I pointed it out on the way and SWMBO said we could stop on the way back home.....
From the Historic Defences of Plymouth :
"This protects the N flank of the line of 4 redoubts (Nos. 1-4) constructed on Maker Heights during the War of American Independence. It was prob begun as a temp redoubt in 1779 by the 2nd Devon Militia; Subsequently it was designed in a more permanent form by Dixon & the Duke of Richmond in 1781-82. Construction began in July 1782 & mostly complete by by Feb 1873, when bad weather stopped work. All five redoubts were originally intended to form detached bastions of a large fort on the high ground to the south of No.5 which was not built. On the defeat of this scheme No.5 was strengthened between July 1787 & summer 1791 by the addition of stone revetments, a loopholed stone barrack/storeroom/guardroom along the gorge & gun platforms. The stone may have been obtained from a small quarry 100m to the S or from other quarries to the rear of No.3 & adjoining Earl's Drive. In 1788 it was labelled as No.5 or 2nd Devon Redoubt, & in 1808 & 1811 is shown as having 9 gun embrasures, 2 on the N flank, 3 on the S & 4 on the W face, with a small building outside the gorge to the rear; it's armament is not known. It was apparently ruinous by 1866 & in WW2 the barrack block was occupied by Plymouth families displaced by the Blitz."
Well, we stopped on the way back and myself and surrogate daughter decided to have a quick trip round the perimeter/moat, only to find somebody had provided a ladder.....
Main entrance
A quick recce was in order as we didn't want to get stuck in the ferry queue, so up the ladder swiftish, and into the redoubt only to find that a lot of clearance had begun in fact all the tools were still there
Saw's, Hammer, Bolt Cutters ? Adze ?
Couldn't see anyone about but remains of recent occupation evident, 2 tents and sleeping bags ,unopened can of Relentless etc
Inside Barrack block with hole in floor including ladder
View of outside including military fence
View from Moat towards entrance
Inside showing clearance
Inside showing recent occupation
All in all, a good but swift explore, can't wait to get down holes !!
G
From the Historic Defences of Plymouth :
"This protects the N flank of the line of 4 redoubts (Nos. 1-4) constructed on Maker Heights during the War of American Independence. It was prob begun as a temp redoubt in 1779 by the 2nd Devon Militia; Subsequently it was designed in a more permanent form by Dixon & the Duke of Richmond in 1781-82. Construction began in July 1782 & mostly complete by by Feb 1873, when bad weather stopped work. All five redoubts were originally intended to form detached bastions of a large fort on the high ground to the south of No.5 which was not built. On the defeat of this scheme No.5 was strengthened between July 1787 & summer 1791 by the addition of stone revetments, a loopholed stone barrack/storeroom/guardroom along the gorge & gun platforms. The stone may have been obtained from a small quarry 100m to the S or from other quarries to the rear of No.3 & adjoining Earl's Drive. In 1788 it was labelled as No.5 or 2nd Devon Redoubt, & in 1808 & 1811 is shown as having 9 gun embrasures, 2 on the N flank, 3 on the S & 4 on the W face, with a small building outside the gorge to the rear; it's armament is not known. It was apparently ruinous by 1866 & in WW2 the barrack block was occupied by Plymouth families displaced by the Blitz."
Well, we stopped on the way back and myself and surrogate daughter decided to have a quick trip round the perimeter/moat, only to find somebody had provided a ladder.....
Main entrance
A quick recce was in order as we didn't want to get stuck in the ferry queue, so up the ladder swiftish, and into the redoubt only to find that a lot of clearance had begun in fact all the tools were still there
Saw's, Hammer, Bolt Cutters ? Adze ?
Couldn't see anyone about but remains of recent occupation evident, 2 tents and sleeping bags ,unopened can of Relentless etc
Inside Barrack block with hole in floor including ladder
View of outside including military fence
View from Moat towards entrance
Inside showing clearance
Inside showing recent occupation
All in all, a good but swift explore, can't wait to get down holes !!
G
Last edited: