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Summary

The gateway through the north wall of the fort which was entered via a bridge across the ditch. The presence of a limestone pier within the ditch suggests that this was in two parts; a fixed bridge between the counterscarp wall and the pier and a bascule drawbridge between the pier and the curtain wall.

Location

Protected Status

• Scheduled Monument 1021430: The Old Redoubt and later Victorian Rifle Range Target, 540m south west of Berry Head Fort

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX95NW/16/2
• Tide Project: 01/12/2021

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BASCULE BRIDGE (XVIII to XIX - 1795 AD (Between) to 1807 AD (Between))
• GATEWAY (Built, XVIII to XIX - 1795 AD (Between) to 1807 AD (Between))

Full description

Pye, A.R., 1989, Berry Head Fort, Brixham. An Archaeological Assessment, 34, Pl. 4 (Report - Assessment). SDV362497.

The fort was entered from the north, originally across a drawbridge. Settings for this and for the gate are still visible in the masonry.

Pye, A.R. & Slater, W.D., 1990, Berry Head Fort, Brixham, An Archaeological Survey, 11 (Report - Survey). SDV362493.

The gateway is in the centre of the north wall. It seems originally to have been entered via a drawbridge, which has since removed and replaced by the present causeway. Sockets for the drawbridge timbers survive, as do portions of the walls retaining the rampart within the entrance itself. An iron hinge in the east wall towards the rear of the entrance, and a corresponding iron loop in the west wall, probably represent the position of timber doors.

Passmore, A. J., 2010, Archaeological Recording at Berry Head, Brixham, Devon, May to October 2009, 2-3, 11, Figs 3-5, Pl. 1 (Report - Assessment). SDV364281.

Archaeological recording was undertaken by Exeter Archaeology in 2009 during replacement of the entrance bridge to the fort, part of the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust’s ‘On The Edge’ project.
Removal of the modern causeway exposed structural features relating to the original entrance to the fort including a limestone pier in the centre of the ditch. These showed that access over the ditch formerly comprised a fixed bridge between the counterscarp wall and the pier and a bascule [lever operated] drawbridge between the pier and the curtain wall. See report for further details.

Ordnance Survey, 2021, MasterMap 2021 (Cartographic). SDV364015.

Entrance through north wall shown.

Riley, H., 2023, Berry Head Fort, Hardy’s Head Battery & The Old Redoubt, Torbay, Devon. PAI Implementation Plan for Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme, 6, Figs 9-18 (Report - Survey). SDV365956.

The causeway entrance on the north side of the Old Redoubt shows clearly on Lidar imagery.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV362493	Report - Survey: Pye, A.R. & Slater, W.D.. 1990. Berry Head Fort, Brixham, An Archaeological Survey. Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report. EMAFU 90.10. Hardcopy + Digital. 11.
	Linked documents:1
SDV362497	Report - Assessment: Pye, A.R.. 1989. Berry Head Fort, Brixham. An Archaeological Assessment. Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit. EMAFU 89.04. Hardcopy + Digital. 34, Pl. 4.
	Linked documents:1
SDV364015	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2021. MasterMap 2021. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #128571 ]
SDV364281	Report - Assessment: Passmore, A. J.. 2010. Archaeological Recording at Berry Head, Brixham, Devon, May to October 2009. Exeter Archaeology. 10.73. Digital. 2-3, 11, Figs 3-5, Pl. 1.
	Linked documents:1
SDV365956	Report - Survey: Riley, H.. 2023. Berry Head Fort, Hardy’s Head Battery & The Old Redoubt, Torbay, Devon. PAI Implementation Plan for Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Hazel Riley. Digital. 6, Figs 9-18.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7834 - Archaeological Assessment of the Berry Head Forts
• EDV8911 - Archaeological recording at Berry Head, Brixham
• EDV7835 - Archaeological Survey of the Berry Head Forts
• EDV9033 - Assessment of Berry Head Fort, Hardy’s Head Battery and The Old Redoubt, Torbay, Devon

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