Enclosure Walls And Piers To Sw Of Buildings 17, 25, 26 And 27, Rnad Bull Point

The enclosure walls and piers located to the southwest of Buildings 17, 25, 26, and 27 at RNAD Bull Point were constructed between 1851 and 1854. They are made from Plymouth limestone squared rubble with ashlar piers. These walls surround the magazine enclosure, which includes the magazines and associated traverse walls that are designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The walls feature capped piers and have gateways at both the northern and southern ends. The southern gateway has been altered and includes a smaller segmental-arched pedestrian doorway with a raised granite surround on one side, and the lintel is inscribed with "B(oard) O(rdnance)."

Historically, this wall encloses the magazines at Bull Point, situated just north of the Royal Navy's new Steam Yard at Keyham. Bull Point was the final significant project of the Board of Ordnance, which was dissolved in 1856. It was designed to store 40,000 barrels of powder within an integrated complex that included a floating magazine for unloading powder and the 1805 St Budeaux laboratory where it was inspected and processed before being transported to the Bull Point magazines. Unlike other yards, Bull Point was specifically designed with buildings dedicated to both the processing and storage of new types of ordnance, which significantly influenced the design of naval ships and fortifications. The buildings, primarily constructed in ashlar with rock-faced dressings, align stylistically with the magazines and represent the finest ensemble among the Ordnance Yards. This reflects the high standards upheld by the Ordnance Board in their designs for fortifications and barracks since the 17th century, showcasing a remarkable example of integrated factory planning from that period. For a comprehensive history of the site, refer to Building 13.