Steps Dwarf Walls Lamps And Retaining Wall To Gardens Fronting Officers Terrace

The structure consists of a retaining wall, steps, and a dwarf wall with four lamps, built in 1722. It was designed by Colonel Lilly for the Board of Ordnance and constructed by Andrew Cowley from London. The materials used include rubble and granite, complemented by iron railings and lamps. The steps have a symmetrical layout with a central path leading to the wall that fronts Officers' Terrace. The lower part of the yard was excavated into solid rock, creating two opposing flights of steps with iron railings. At the top, a granite path, which previously had iron railings, leads to a low wall facing Officers' Terrace. This wall features cannon balls atop a low flight of stairs and four gas lamps: two with open cast-iron latticework standards and lamps with gilded crown finials, and two with moulded cast-iron shafts. Historically, this structure connected the lower Gun Wharf to the upper level and served as the front for the Officers' Terrace. The dwarf walls and lamps are integral to the formal design of the officers' level, while the steps, carved from the dressed cliff behind the Gun Wharf, highlight the extensive works involved in creating what is the most complete naval ordnance yard in the country.