West Blockhouse Fort

The West Blockhouse Fort is a barrack-block and gun emplacement constructed in the 19th century, specifically dated 1857 as indicated by the “V.R. 1857” datestone above the rear door. It is built of superbly executed tooled grey limestone walling with smooth limestone dressings and granite copings.

The two-storey barrack block has a flat roof and a high, coped parapet pierced with splayed musketry loops. It is arranged in two wings set at right angles, with a short canted section connecting them. The rear of the canted section has a single door reached by granite cantilevered steps descending to a small granite platform. A timber drawbridge spans the ditch from this platform, and further steps continue down to ditch level. A flight of seven granite steps, flanked by low limestone walls, leads to the approach. Behind the barrack block is a full-height stone-revetted ditch.

The front terrace leads down to a low-walled gun emplacement. Small half-round cap-houses are situated behind the centre front of the barrack block, with low chimneys on either side. Additional chimneys are located on the rear parapet, flanking the canted section. The ground floor walling is battered, with a raised plinth and bands above and under the parapet. Rustication is apparent on the windows and angles. Windows have carefully moulded stone sills that curve to meet the jambs. The rear elevation has two small 12-pane sash windows in each wing, and a timber studded door with an overlight and slate lintel, set within a square-headed recess of stone voussoirs. Tiny barred windows are present on the ground floor. The seaward facade features five musketry loops to each wing’s parapet, three to the canted centre, and a tiny window in the centre of each floor of the canted section. The wings contain three first-floor windows, with the inner one being larger; the left wing has three small ground-floor windows, while the right wing has only one. Generally, the windows are small 12-pane sashes. Stone gutter spouts are present throughout. End walls each have one first-floor sash.

The gun platform consists of three curved bastions projecting at angles, with low ashlar walls massively coped in granite. The wall steps up at the right end to return to the cliff. A small enclosed yard is situated off the platform, containing a single-storey storehouse with a flat parapet and four doors with stone lintels. A higher end wall incorporates a band, a parapet, and one door.

The interior is not accessible for inspection but is reportedly characterised by brick vaulted, fire-proof ceilings.