Entrance Gates And Wall To East Side Of Rnad Bull Point

The entrance gates and wall on the east side of RNAD Bull Point were constructed between 1851 and 1854, designed by the Commanding Royal Engineer in Devonport for the Board of Ordnance. Made from Plymouth limestone squared rubble and featuring ashlar piers, the wall extends approximately 750 meters from northwest to southeast, highlighting the secure nature of the site. The northern entrance has square granite capped piers and a later metal gate, while the eastern gateway features square granite piers and late 20th-century gates. The wall includes rifle slits for added defense.

Historically, this wall encloses the landward side of an important ordnance yard. Bull Point, situated just north of the Royal Navy's Steam Yard at Keyham, was the last major project of the Board of Ordnance, which was disbanded in 1856. The site was designed to store 40,000 barrels of powder and included a floating magazine for unloading powder and the 1805 St Budeaux laboratory for checking and processing it before storage in the Bull Point magazines. Unlike other yards, Bull Point was initially equipped with buildings specifically planned for various functions related to the processing and storage of new types of ordnance, which significantly influenced naval ship and fortification design. The buildings, primarily in ashlar with rock-faced dressings, create a stylistically coherent ensemble that aligns with the magazines, representing the high standards of design upheld by the Ordnance Board since the 17th century and showcasing remarkable integrated factory planning of the period. For a complete history of the site, refer to Building 13.