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| HER Number: | 7900.03 |
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| Name: | RAT ISLAND - Post Medieval blockhouse |
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Summary
A block house dating to the C17 or earlier, situated on Rat Island.
Protected Status: None recorded
Other References/Statuses
- OS No. (OS Quarter-sheet and OS No.): SV91SW 30
- Primary Record No. (1985-2009): 7900.03
Monument Type(s):
Full description
Prior to the 1994 revision of the Garrison defences SMR, this site was recorded under PRN 7570 (b5).
A block house dating to the C17 or earlier, situated on Rat Island off the north east coast of the Garrison, may have been destroyed by the sea or by development of the site following the extension of the quay to Rat Island. The 1652 survey refers to Rat Island as "a blockhouse for the preservation of the (Hugh) harbour into which at low water they may pass on drye ground, but ... of noe other value or use than of afforesaid". (b1). Troutbeck in 1796 notes that the half acre island was then uninhabited common grazing, and records that "upon the top ... are the remains of a breastwork, which somewhat resemble a rose; but since such strong batteries have been erected in the Garrison, a battery on this island would be of little use" (b2). As noted by Tangye (b4), the blockhouse appears to have survived in some form until at least 1814, when a 'fort' on Rat Island (subsequently called 'Elba') was the centre of a mock naval battle to celebrate Napoleon's defeat (b3).
(b5) - Parkes, C, 1994, Pers Comm, ,
<1> Pounds, NJG, 1984, The Parliamentary Survey of the Duchy of Cornwall, PT 2, 37 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4153.
<2> Troutbeck, J, 1796, Survey of the Ancient and Present State of the Scilly Islands, 53-54 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4965.
<3> UNKNOWN, 1814, THE REJOICINGS ON THE 14TH, INSTANT, 23/7/1814 (Unedited Source). SCO5789.
<4> Tangye, M, 1970, Scilly 1801-1821, 35-37 (Bibliographic reference). SCO4538.
Sources / Further Reading
| [1] | SCO4153 - Bibliographic reference: Pounds, NJG. 1984. The Parliamentary Survey of the Duchy of Cornwall. PT 2, 37. |
| [2] | SCO4965 - Bibliographic reference: Troutbeck, J. 1796. Survey of the Ancient and Present State of the Scilly Islands. 53-54. |
| [3] | SCO5789 - Unedited Source: UNKNOWN. 1814. THE REJOICINGS ON THE 14TH, INSTANT. ROYAL CORNWALL GAZETTE. 23/7/1814. |
| [4] | SCO4538 - Bibliographic reference: Tangye, M. 1970. Scilly 1801-1821. 35-37. |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events
- ECO1300 - Isles of Scilly: Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment, 2003
Related records
| 7900 | Part of: THE GARRISON - Post Medieval fortification (Monument) |
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