Southdown Quays

Southdown Quays consists of quays forming two basins, built in the 18th century. They are constructed from slatestone rubble arranged in pitched and horizontal bands, with granite copings and granite ashlar. The quays feature battered walls, and the square-headed jetty on the east side has a flight of granite steps in the center and another flight of granite steps on the southwest side. This jetty serves as the outer wall for the roughly rectangular basin to the east. The second, narrower basin to the west has its west wall made of slatestone rubble, while the north and east walls are built from granite ashlar.

These quays were historically used for transporting bricks from the Southdown brickworks, which were located nearby along with former brick kilns and quarries to the northwest, as well as trackways for loading bricks. The area adjacent to the quays is cobbled.

The site was first utilized around 1650 for a gunpowder works, likely linked to the Plymouth dockyards, and has since seen various industrial uses.