Picklecombe Fort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Picklecombe Fort |
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| Cornwall England |
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| Site information | |
| Owner | Private |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Complete |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1864-1871 |
| Materials | Masonry Iron |
Fort Picklecombe stands on the extreme south eastern coast of Cornwall, a couple of miles west of the city of Plymouth. The fort has been a residential complex since the early 1970s but has a history dating back 150 years.
Contents
Building a Stronghold
Fort Picklecombe was ordered to be built in the mid-1800s. This order came from Lord Palmerston. He was an important politician who served as Foreign Secretary and then Prime Minister under Queen Victoria.
At that time, Great Britain was worried about attacks from the sea. Especially, there was a concern about a large invasion from France. To protect the country, Lord Palmerston decided to build many forts along the coast.
Defending Plymouth Sound
One of the most important places to defend was Devonport. This was a huge naval base in Plymouth. The entrance to Plymouth's harbor is called Plymouth Sound. Fort Picklecombe was built on the west side of this entrance. Fort Bovisand was built on the east side. A smaller fort was also placed on the Plymouth Sound breakwater.
Fort Picklecombe itself needed protection from attacks from behind. So, smaller forts and batteries were built nearby. These were located on or near the Rame Peninsula.
Construction and Design
Fort Picklecombe was built near an older, simpler earth fort. Major (later Major General) Whitworth Porter designed the fort. Hubbard and Company built it between 1864 and 1871.
The fort had many powerful guns. It started with forty-two 9-inch and 10-inch muzzle-loading guns. These guns were placed in a curved line of two-story rooms called casemates. These rooms had strong granite blocks and iron shields. In the 1890s, the fort got new, more modern guns. These included two 6-inch breech-loaders and two light, quick-firing guns.
Interestingly, the fort never fired a single shot in a real battle. Because of this, some people called these forts "Palmerston Follies". However, the forts were very important. Their presence acted as a strong deterrent, meaning they stopped enemies from even trying to attack.
20th Century Changes
The guns were removed from Fort Picklecombe in the 1920s. But when World War II started, the fort became active again. It was manned by soldiers from the 566th Devon Coast Regiment, Royal Artillery.
During the war, the fort received new weapons. It had two 6-inch guns and two twin 6-pounder guns. Nearby, special spots were made for range finders and searchlights. These helped soldiers spot enemy ships. You can still see the remains of these positions today.
From Fort to Homes
After World War II, the fort was no longer needed for defense. It was left empty for many years. Eventually, it was sold to property developers. In the early 1970s, the fort was transformed. It became 103 apartments where people now live.
The fort's location is very special. It overlooks Plymouth Sound and is part of the beautiful Mount Edgcumbe Country Park. This makes it a very desirable place to live. It's a quiet, rural spot, but it's also close to the city of Plymouth.
The Officers' Mess
Above the main fort, there is a grand building called the Officers' Mess. It is said that the landowner at the time, the Earl of Edgcumbe, wanted this building to look like Warwick Castle. So, it has towers and castle-like decorations. In 2007, this building was also being converted into flats.
