Maker Battery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maker Battery |
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The battery was originally designed for a single, later three 12.5-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) guns
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 Maker Battery
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| Coordinates | 50°20′19″N 4°11′51″W / 50.3386°N 4.1974°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Privately owned |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Derelict, complete |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1885-1887 |
| In use | Disused |
| Materials | Earth Concrete |
Maker Battery is an old coastal artillery battery from the 1800s. It was built to help protect the important Royal Naval Dockyard in Devonport, England. A "battery" is a place where big guns are set up to defend an area.
Contents
What is Maker Battery?
Maker Battery was a military site with large guns. Its main job was to guard the entrance to the Royal Naval Dockyard. This dockyard was a very important place where navy ships were built and repaired. Protecting it was key for Britain's navy.
Building the Battery
Plans for Maker Battery started in 1885. It was finished and ready to use by 1887. The battery was first designed to hold one very large gun. This was a 12.5-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) gun. "Rifled" means the inside of the gun barrel had grooves. These grooves made the cannonball spin, helping it fly straighter and further. "Muzzle Loading" means the ammunition was loaded from the front of the gun.
By 1890, two more of these big 12.5-inch guns were moved to Maker Battery. They came from a nearby place called Grenville Battery. This made Maker Battery even stronger.
How the Battery Worked
The big guns at Maker Battery needed a lot of ammunition. This ammunition was stored safely in underground rooms called magazines. These magazines were built below the gun positions.
To protect the battery from attacks from the land, it had a small ditch around the back. There was also a drawbridge to cross this ditch. Soldiers who worked at the battery did not live there. However, a small cookhouse was built. This was so the soldiers could have meals while they were on duty.
Upgrades and Later Years
In 1899, Maker Battery was updated with newer, more modern guns. The battery was changed to hold two 6-inch Breech Loading (BL) guns. "Breech Loading" means the ammunition was loaded from the back of the gun. This made them much faster to reload than the older RML guns.
These new guns were installed by 1903. They stayed at Maker Battery until 1911, when they were removed. The military, known as the War Office, stopped using the battery completely in 1948.
Today, Maker Battery is still there. It is complete, meaning all its parts are present. However, it is no longer used and is in a ruined state.
