Redoubt No.5, Maker Heights, Cornwall, July 2018

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HughieD

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1. The History
Redoubt No.5 is a battery, roughly-rectangular in shape, with Royal Commission fortifications. It is situated on the northern side of the prominent ridge on the Rame Peninsula known as Maker Heights which overlooks the Millbrook Lake, over the Tamar estuary, due west of Plymouth.

It has stone-faced ramparts with bull-nosed decorated copings and an outer gorge of up to 6m deep. Its interior features including a gatehouse, barracks with bomb-proof roofs. On the eastern side Musketry loops protect the now missing bridge.

Google Maps view:

42611936605_e5530cd663.jpgNo.5 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The battery was initially built as a temporary structure in earth in 1779 by the 2nd Devon Militia for the War of American Independence. It was intended to protect the four redoubts (No.s 1-4) of the Maker Line. It was made ‘permanent’ in 1782-3 by Dixon & the Duke of Richmond, with the intention of forming a bastion for a much larger fort which never got built. Between 1787-91 the redoubt was strengthened by the addition of the stone revetments, a loop holed barracks along the gorge and gun platforms and renamed 'Redoubt No.5. Between 1808 to 1811 it had 9 guns in total; 2 on the north flank, 3 on the south and 4 on the west. It was most likely not completely repaired under the Royal Commission proposals and was most likely abandoned in 1866. In World War II the barrack block was occupied by Plymouth families displaced by the Blitz.

The battery was Grade II listed in June 1972.

2. The Explore
Came across this place by chance as I was returning from the Maker Heights anti-aircraft battery. It looked too tempting to walk past in the summer sun. The bridge into the fort has completely gone and the only realistic way into the fort is via a ladder via the outer gorge. And given said ladder was not available it was externals only. Fortunately, I got enough pictures of interest to make a small report.

3. The Pictures

View from Maker Lane:

43469190832_23822cd5fb_b.jpgimg8373 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The west side of the Redoubt:

43469146802_bbb0c5d14e_b.jpgimg8376 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Front entrance (east side):

43516224471_4048c32378_b.jpgimg8378 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Close-up of main gate:

42611452265_cdaf50c896_b.jpgimg8377 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Going round the fort clockwise….window on the east side:

41708086320_8fa34b9dd0_b.jpgimg8380 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Two support pillars but no walk-way:

29644860038_64b8634df4_b.jpgimg8381 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The south-east corner:

42799243014_6d81f161ff_b.jpgimg8382 by HughieDW, on Flickr

South-west:

28629097417_9a0282dc7b_b.jpgimg8383 by HughieDW, on Flickr

…and north-west corner:

41707946120_6d1a0e7c6d_b.jpgimg8384 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And no way in:

29644687828_9599ec90ab_b.jpgimg8386 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
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Shame you could not get in there mate looks like it could be rather nice
 
Looks like you had a lovely day for that explore HD....you should take mikey next time, he would probably just fall over and roll down the hill straight through an open door...he's such a lucky bugga:excitement::excitement:
 
Looks like you had a lovely day for that explore HD....you should take mikey next time, he would probably just fall over and roll down the hill straight through an open door...he's such a lucky bugga:excitement::excitement:

Ha ha...he could have given me a leg up. Saw one report on here and the guy freeclimbed the 6m wall. If only!
 
Ladder is the answer!

Innit? The one of the two reports to include the inside was where the guy rocked up and there was a bit of work being done on the interior (tree removal etc) and they'd left their ladder there. The other was our free-climber friend.
 

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