Laira Battery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laira Battery |
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| Plymouth Devon England |
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 Laira Battery
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| Coordinates | 50°23′N 4°06′W / 50.38°N 4.10°W |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Mostly intact, some parts demolished |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1863-1871 |
| In use | Now plant hire depot |
| Materials | Earth Masonry |
The Laira Battery is an old fort from the 1800s. It was built to protect the city of Plymouth in England. This fort was part of a bigger plan to defend the important Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport.
The fort was built after a special report in 1859. This report suggested building many forts around Britain. These forts are often called Palmerston Forts. They are named after the Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, who strongly supported building them.
What Was Laira Battery For?
Laira Battery was designed to hold 13 large guns. These guns would protect the land around Plymouth, especially from the northeast. The fort was built overlooking the River Laira.
Inside the Fort
The fort had a special building called a barrack block. This building could house two officers and 30 soldiers. They lived there to guard the fort.
Some of the gun positions were very strong. They were built inside protected areas called Haxo casemates. These were special rooms that kept the guns and soldiers safe. There was also a vaulted magazine. This was a strong, underground room where ammunition for the guns was stored safely.
The Fort's History
By the early 1900s, Laira Battery was no longer needed for defence. Military technology had changed, making the fort old-fashioned. So, its guns were removed.
The War Office, which managed military land, sold the fort in 1961. In 2003, Laira Battery was given a special status. It became a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected. Today, the old fort is used as a place to store and rent out machinery.
