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Maker Battery
12.5-inch RML
The battery was originally designed for a single, later three 12.5-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) guns
Maker Battery is located in Devon
Maker Battery
Maker Battery
Coordinates 50°20′19″N 4°11′51″W / 50.3386°N 4.1974°W / 50.3386; -4.1974
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 a former 19th-century coastal artillery battery, built to strengthen the defence of the Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport.

The battery was proposed in 1885 on the recommendations of the Stanhope Committee report and completed in 1887. It was built with emplacements for a single 12.5-inch Rifled Muzzle Loading (RML) gun which was mounted. It was then supplemented in 1890 when two further 12.5-inch guns were moved from nearby Grenville Battery.

The gun positions were served by underground magazines. The rear of the battery is enclosed by a small ditch and drawbridge. There was no barrack accommodation at the battery, but a small cookhouse was built to cater for the men expected to man the battery.

The battery was upgraded with newer armament in 1899 when the battery was re-modelled for two 6-inch breech loading (BL) guns which were installed by 1903. These remained in place until 1911 when they were dismounted. The battery was abandoned by the War Office in 1948.

The battery remains complete but derelict today.

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