East Weare Batteries At Sy 694 741

The East Weare Batteries, located at Incline Road within H.M. Naval Base, are a disused gun emplacement dating from around 1870. Constructed from Portland stone, with some concrete and iron, the site features the remains of three platforms and a magazine. The central magazine, which is covered with earth, has a platform aligned to the northeast, flanked by two additional platforms at 30-degree angles. Behind the magazine is a small, unroofed building with a single cell. The entire structure is set into the slopes of The Verne on its northern side, surrounded by a series of sunken passageways.

The central platform has a semi-circular end made of ashlar, leading to a heavy rounded parapet at ground level. It includes four vertical embrasures with segmental heads, alternating with five mid-height square recesses that contain iron bolts and rings. Each side features a straight run of rock-faced masonry wall approximately 8 meters long and 2.5 meters high, topped with a bold weathered coping, and returning at an obtuse angle for another 8 meters, each with a central deep square recess at pavement level.

In the center of the emplacement, there is a raised circular base made of stone and concrete, which has a central iron pivot or spigot, along with a ramp leading towards the magazine mound. The flanking platforms each have a semi-octagonal termination, and each emplacement is marked with a small stone plaque inscribed: "LEVEL OF TOP OF RACER ABOVE HWM 216 FT." To the southwest, there is a mound over the magazine, featuring a small square vent made of rock-faced stone. An ashlar wall, approximately 20 meters long and 4.5 meters high, retains the mound on the southwest side, with paired arched openings at either end, filled with concrete blockwork. There are also remains of a square-plan building located approximately 4 meters to the southwest.

The battery is visible from the higher slopes of The Verne and was designed to command Portland Harbour to the southeast.