Traverse to former Shifting House, Lower Upnor Ordnance Depot

Traverse to former Shifting House, Lower Upnor Ordnance Depot, 1811. A traverse is a protective earthwork. sometimes revetted (as here), which is placed to ensure that any accidental explosion in the structure it is protecting (here the shifting house), is contained.

MATERIALS: Earth traverse with retaining walls of yellow stock brick in Flemish bond.

PLAN: A broadly triangular traverse with long walls to the west and east and a short return to the north.

DESCRIPTION: The Lower Upnor Ordnance Depot comprises a site oriented north-south adjacent to the west bank of the River Medway and immediately north of Upnor Castle (built 1559-67, SM 27007, Grade I).

The traverse to the now demolished Shifting House is located in the extreme south of the site to the immediate north of Upnor Castle and to the south of the Grade II* listed B magazine. The traverse wall runs up-slope to the south, with a rising coping, enclosing and retaining an almost triangular earth embankment. The traverse wall therefore retains the north, west and east sides of the broadly triangular traverse. The traverse was very overgrown at the time of inspection. However, the revetment wall was part-visible on all sides confirming the presence of brick on all sides, and the visible brickwork is homogenous. At the north-west corner is a square pier where the traverse wall returns.