See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Battery established after 1832 when Castle Hill Battery was removed to the shoreline and retained in 1886 when the rest of the War department land was sold off. It comprises a rectangular building constructed with massive bolted timbers and appears to have been purpose built for three cannon.

Location

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1195167: GUN BATTERY APPROXIMATELY 10 METRES WEST OF THE BATTERY

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX95NW/110
• Torbay HER: MTO60100

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• COASTAL BATTERY (Built, XIX - 1832 AD (Between) to 1886 AD (Between))

Full description

Sheringham, Capt., 1852, Torbay (Cartographic). SDV362295.

The battery appears to be present on an admiralty chart of Torbay between 1852-70

Ordnance Survey, 1880-1899, First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map (Cartographic). SDV336179.

Site not shown.

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

Embanked enclosure depicted containing several buildings.

Pye, A.R., 1989, Berry Head Fort, Brixham. An Archaeological Assessment, 11, 12-13 (Report - Assessment). SDV362497.

In an 1832 review of the Berry Head fortifications it was recommended that the Castle Hill Battery be moved to from its site above Ashole Cavern and reconstructed on 'a platform that lies underneath it on the shore or somewhere thereabouts ' as 'C' Battery. A plan of 1886 shows an old gun battery in this position.
The battery was re-established at Shoalstone Point, new land having to be acquired to do so almost certainly shortly afterwards, for by 1886 it was being described as 'The Old Gun Battery.
This is probably the ‘Drill Battery of the Naval Reserve’, the right of War Dept access to which as included in the conveyance of Berry Head to Hogg in 1886.

Pye, A.R. & Slater, W.D., 1990, Berry Head Fort, Brixham, An Archaeological Survey, 8, 9, 26-27, Figs (Report - Survey). SDV362493.

The presence on an 1886 plan of an "old battery" on Shoalstone Point indicates that the proposal to re-site Castle Hill Battery, as part of the re-organisation of the defences suggested by Col. Birch in 1832, was probably carried out. It is built of massive bolted timbers to absorb vibration and appears to have been purpose-built for three cannon (the same number as Castle Hill). There appear to have originally been three gun ports in the front, north, wall of which the eastern one still survives and the remains of hinges on the posts to the rear of the building indicate that access to each gun was through a pair of doors. The building is now converted. See report for further details.

Exeter Archaeology, 2010, Berry Head Hotel Brixham Part 1: Archaeological Assessment (Report - Assessment). SDV362409.

Gun battery probably erected after 1832. It was subsequently converted into a cottage and garage.

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

Rectangular building shown.

Historic England, 2021, National Heritage List for England, 1195167 (National Heritage List for England). SDV364016.

Gun battery approximately 10 metres west of The Battery. Gun battery, now converted to cottage and garage. 1830s (after 1832).
The foundations of another battery are exposed in the garden to the west. This was the Shoalstone Point Battery, probably erected following Colonel Birch's report to the Board of Ordnance in 1832. It now stands in the garden of a C20 bungalow called The Battery (not included).
See listing description for full details.
Date first listed: 18th October 1993

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV336179	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1880-1899. First Edition Ordnance 25 inch map. First Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV362295	Cartographic: Sheringham, Capt.. 1852. Torbay. Admiralty Chart. Map (Paper).
SDV362409	Report - Assessment: Exeter Archaeology. 2010. Berry Head Hotel Brixham Part 1: Archaeological Assessment. Exeter Archaeology. 10.05. Digital.
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. 8, 9, 26-27, Figs.
	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. 11, 12-13.
	Linked documents:1
SDV364015	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2021. MasterMap 2021. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #129695 ]
SDV364016	National Heritage List for England: Historic England. 2021. National Heritage List for England. Digital. 1195167.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7832 - Documentary research on the Berry Head Fort
• EDV7834 - Archaeological Assessment of the Berry Head Forts
• EDV7835 - Archaeological Survey of the Berry Head Forts
• EDV7960 - Berry Head Hotel, Brixham, Archaeological & Architectural Assessment 2010

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.