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Summary

A small fort or battery was built on the Den in the mid 18th century. It appears to have been in a ruined state by 1762 but it was repaired in the 1790s only to be closed at the end of the Napoleonic War in 1815. However, by 1859 it was up and running again. In 1866 Lord Courtenay made known his wish to build on the Den and the battery was moved to the sea front.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SX97SW/44

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• BATTERY (XVIII - 1701 AD to 1800 AD (Between))

Full description

Silverman, J., Copies of 18th and 19th Century Plans of Teignmouth (Plan - sketch). SDV354592.

Fort shown on 18th and 19th century maps and plans.

Hole, W., 1759, DRO/19192/1 (Record Office Collection). SDV311558.

Lysons, D. + Lysons, S., 1822, Magna Britannica, 489-490 (Monograph). SDV323771.

A fort or battery was erected about 1744 on the Den at Teignmouth, not far from the site of an earlier one.

Lake, W. C., 1874, Sketch of the History of Teignmouth, 380-1 (Article in Serial). SDV302882.

It was built at the request of the local inhabitants, who feared a repetition of the sacking of the town by the French in 1690.

Lake, W. C., 1890, Notes on the Origin of the Streets of Teignmouth, and on their Nomenclature, 124 (Article in Serial). SDV291838.

A fort once existed on The Den.

Lake, W. C., 1904, Ancient Teignmouth, 109 (Article in Serial). SDV350554.

A small battery existed at one time on The Den, not far from the site of the present one, but this was not erected until 1774, and was known as The Fort.

Parry, H., 1914, Notes on Old Teignmouth (Monograph). SDV350617.

Donn, B., 1965, A Map of the County of Devon, 1765 (Reprint) (Monograph). SDV336413.

Fort described on Donn's map as 'Ruins of a Fort'.

Minchinton, W., 1977, Windmills of Devon, 46 (Monograph). SDV12997.

Copy of mid 18th century map shows fort.

Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division, 1980, SX97SW33 (Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Card). SDV350636.

Site of an 18th century fort, near the site of an earlier fort.

Pearson, A., 1985, Visitor's Guide to Teignmouth, South Devon, 97 (Monograph). SDV300876.

1759 map shows a fort on the Den. In ruins by 1779.

Morley, B., 1996, Thoughts on the Development of Teignmouth: Text of a Public Lecture, Figures 5, 8 (Un-published). SDV291839.

Silverman, J., 2006-2008, Teignmouth Battery (Un-published). SDV354593.

Information relating to the fort and battery at Teignmouth, including maps and a summary of events.

Silverman, J., 2006-2008, Teignmouth Battery (Un-published). SDV354594.

Annotated copies of maps, plans and photographs of Teignmouth Battery.

Silverman, J, 2006-2008, Teignmouth Fort and Battery (Correspondence). SDV351221.

Information relating to the fort and battery at Teighnmouth, including extracts from documents.

Silverman, J., 2007, Summary of Events: Battery/Sea Front (Un-published). SDV354591.

Silverman, J., 2007, The Teignmouth Battery (Un-published). SDV354590.

History of the battery at Teignmouth, built in the late 18th century to defend the town against the French. Still wary after the attack by the French in 1690 the people of Teignmouth sent a petition to Sir William Courtenay, the manor lord, in the 1740s asking for permission to build a small fort on the Den. The fort is shown on several Courtenay Estate maps dated 1759. However, an article in the Royal Magazine in 1762 states that the town and harbour were defenceless and the fort in ruins. It is shown as such on Donn's Map. The fort was repaired in the 1790s. It was closed at the end of the Napoleonic War in 1815 but was up and running again in 1859 although with two 64 pound cannon rather than 12 pounders. In 1866 Lord Courtenay made known his wish to build on the Den and the Battery was temporarily relocated to the Sea Front until the new Battery was completed near the lighthouse in 1871. The battery continued to be manned until 1905 and in 1907 the site was converted into an underground public toilet. Not quite the end the Volunteers would have cared to imagine.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded

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