Egg Buckland Keep facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Egg Buckland Keep |
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|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°24′13″N 4°06′43″W / 50.4037°N 4.1119°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Privately owned |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Complete |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1863-1868 |
| Built by | George Baker & Company |
| In use | Retail, storage and residential |
| Materials | Earth Masonry |
Egg Buckland Keep is an old army building from the 1800s. It was built to protect the city of Plymouth in England. This keep was part of a big plan to defend important places in Britain, especially the Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport, which was a key base for the navy.
Why it was Built
The keep was built because of a special report called the Royal Commission on National Defence of 1859. This report said that Britain needed stronger defenses. Many forts were built around the country as a result, and these are often called Palmerston Forts. They were named after the Prime Minister at the time, Lord Palmerston, who strongly supported building them.
Egg Buckland Keep was specifically designed to protect the land around the north-east side of Plymouth. It was also meant to house soldiers who would serve at nearby forts like Forder Battery, Bowden Fort, and Fort Austin.
How it was Designed
Captain Edmund Frederick Du Cane designed Egg Buckland Keep. It was built by a company called George Baker and Company, and then finished by army engineers known as the Royal Engineers.
The keep was connected to the nearby Forder Battery by an underground tunnel. It was big enough to hold 230 soldiers. It also had space to store ammunition, like cannonballs and shells. The keep itself wasn't meant to have its own guns, though some powerful 7-inch guns were suggested in 1875. However, these guns were never actually put in place.
What Happened Later
The British government department in charge of the army, called the War Office, sold Egg Buckland Keep in 1947. After that, it was used for shops and storage. It was sold again in 2018 to new owners.
In 1973, Egg Buckland Keep was given a special status called "Grade II listed". This means it's an important historical building and is protected, so it can't be changed or knocked down without special permission.
