The Citadel, Disused Battery Approximately 150 Metres South East South Of South Entrance

This is a disused artillery battery dating to 1892 and 1898, located approximately 150 metres south east south of the South Entrance on the Glacis of The Verne. Constructed primarily of Portland stone, concrete, and brick, the complex lies outside the main Verne fortifications and is freely accessible. It comprises two single emplacements and a run of six linked emplacements connected by three tunnel runs, all based on a series of entrenchments roughly 4.5 metres wide. The main north-south run extends approximately 120 metres before fading to the north, with three east-west arms and a curved projecting arm of roughly 55 metres extending to the southwestern limit. Retaining walls to the trenches are constructed of ashlar, rough coursed stone, or brick, rising to an average height of 1.6 metres. Emplacements at the east end of the northernmost arm and at the extreme end of the southwestern arm are built of concrete and brick, accessed by concrete steps leading down to the trenches. A series of six emplacements to the southeast have flat concrete tops and are linked by a ramp; narrow-gauge rails run along the top and down to the tunnel entries to the north and south. Semicircular emplacements feature two concentric rows of hexagonal-headed fixing bolts at the base. The north-south tunnel is barrel-vaulted and runs in two sections. The northern section has pedimented arched entries set back within raked revetments, the pediments inscribed with 'VR 1892' over a round-arched opening with iron railings. The middle section of the tunnel has similar entries, but leading to a flat parapet over a segmental arch, down eight steps to bricked-up openings dated 'VR 1898'. A third tunnel runs in an arc from west to east, with pedimented entries dated 1892 as seen at the northern end. Near the south end of the main north-south trench are two blockhouses, built with rock-faced stone quoins and flat roofs blocked with large Portland slabs over a heavy square cornice. Former door and window openings are all blocked. The northern blockhouse is in ashlar, whilst the southern blockhouse is rendered.