Ramparts, Counterscarp Revetment, Glacis, Musketry Wall Of Southern Fort

BRIXHAM

SX95NW BERRY HEAD COUNTRY PARK, Berry Head 1946-1/2/17 Ramparts, counterscarp revetment, 18/10/49 glacis, musketry wall of southern fort (Formerly Listed as: BERRY HEAD COMMON South-east Redoubt)

GV II*

Formerly known as: Walls of redoubt SE of Berry Head Common BERRY HEAD COMMON. Defences of military redoubt. 1794-1804. Probably designed by Lt-Col Alexander Mercer. Roughly coursed Devonian limestone rubble with granite string course. The redoubt occupies the southern promontary of the country park and was designed to protect the landward approach to the northern fort (qv). Its ramparts are 3-sided with 12 gun embrasures on the south-west side and 7 on the north-west side. Behind each embrasure is the sunken site of the gun platform. No embrasures on the north side, which was protected by the guns of the northern fort. The entrance, its features now stripped out, is on this side; approached by an earthern causeway, but said to have been a drawbridge here originally. Encircling the ramparts is a deep, dry moat which extends to the cliff edge at either end. On the rampart side is a steeply sloping stone revetment wall, finishing in a rounded granite string course below the gun embrasures. The other side of the moat has an earth embankment with an almost vertical stone revetment wall towards the moat and a gentle slope or glacis on the outside. The southern, seaward, side of the fort is mostly protected by steep cliffs, but at the western end a stretch of stone rubble musketry wall survives. The redoubt is usually referred to in learned publications as the No.1 Fort. It is part of an extensive system of fortifications erected on Berry Head following the outbreak of war with France in 1793. It has been described as one of the most complete surviving examples of purpose-built Napoleonic fortifications in south-west England. (Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Reports: Pye A R: Berry Head Fort, Brixham: 1990-: 9-11).

Listing NGR: SX9411256123