Raleigh Battery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raleigh Battery |
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The battery was built for two 10-inch Breech Loading (BL) guns in 1890
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 Raleigh Battery
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| Coordinates | 50°20′33″N 4°11′21″W / 50.3426°N 4.1893°W |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Accessible |
| Condition | Derelict, complete |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1890–1894 |
| In use | Disused |
| Materials | Earth Concrete |
Raleigh Battery was a special military building on the coast. It was built to protect the Royal Naval Dockyard at Devonport from enemy ships.
Contents
Building Raleigh Battery
Raleigh Battery was built between March 1890 and August 1894. It cost about £4,963 to make. The battery was placed on a sloped area facing the sea, between Hawkins Battery and Maker Farm.
Why Was It Built?
The main reason for building Raleigh Battery was to stop enemy ships from anchoring (parking) in Cawsand Bay. It also helped Picklecombe Fort protect the entrance to Plymouth Sound. This was a very important waterway.
Powerful Guns
The battery had two very large guns called 10-inch Breech Loading (BL) guns. One gun was placed on a special stand made by the Elswick Ordnance Company. The other was on a stand made by the Royal Carriage Department. These guns were very powerful for their time.
Inside the Battery
The guns at Raleigh Battery were supported by underground rooms called magazines. These rooms stored the ammunition. A tunnel connected the magazines, sloping down under a central earth area.
Ammunition Storage
There was one magazine north of the tunnel. To the south, there were two cartridge stores. Each store had its own opening to pass out the ammunition.
Gun Crew Areas
Each gun had its own concrete area. Built into this area were a store, a place for cartridges, a place for shells, and a shelter for the gun crew. This kept everything the crew needed close by.
Other Buildings
Near the right-hand gun, there was a place to collect water and a water tank. The caretaker's office was on the other side. This office had two bedrooms, a living room, and a small kitchen.
Aiming the Guns
Between these areas were two Depression range finders. These were special tools that helped the gunners figure out how far away targets were. This made sure the guns could shoot very accurately. There was also a separate oil store behind the left-hand gun.
Battery Security
An iron fence surrounded the entire battery. There were no living quarters for soldiers at the battery itself.
End of Use
Raleigh Battery was one of the few places to have 10-inch guns. By the 1890s, most British coastal forts used slightly smaller 9.2-inch guns. The nearby Penlee Battery could provide enough protection for the area. Because of this, the guns at Raleigh Battery were removed in 1910. The War Office stopped using the battery completely in 1948.
Today
Today, Raleigh Battery is still mostly complete, but it is overgrown with plants. You can still visit and see what remains of this historic coastal defense.
