Scraesdon Fort

SCRAESDON FORT

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1140707
Date first listed:
26-Jan-1987
List Entry Name:
Scraesdon Fort
Statutory Address:
SCRAESDON FORT

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Location

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1140707
Date first listed:
26-Jan-1987
List Entry Name:
Scraesdon Fort
Statutory Address 1:
SCRAESDON FORT

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
SCRAESDON FORT

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Cornwall (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Antony
National Grid Reference:
SX3928954886

Details

SX 35 SE AND SX 35 NE ANTONY

2/15 & 5/15 Scraesdon Fort

II

Fort. Designed 1859, work started 1860, completed 1865. Snecked rockfaced limestone
rubble with stone dressings.
An irregular 5-sided fort with entrance to south east; surrounded by a moat. There
were 27 guns mounted on the ramparts, and the casements were covered by earth on the
northern side to act as a screen to prevent the interior work being seen from high
ground on the opposite side of the Lynher River about 200 yards away. Barracks/store
rooms around inner sides of walls. Flight to steps at north east side leading down
to the moat.
Entrance bay has parapet stepped up with splayed openings and 2 lancets; tall round-
headed doorway with roll-mouldings and pulleys right and left for the drawbridge,
lantern overthrow, double round-headed studded doors. To left of entrance, 12 bays,
each with triplet opening of central round-headed casement with voussoirs and narrow
single light to each side, 2 similar bays to right of entrance. 2-storey ravelin to
right with lancets, blocking course and hipped stone roof. Wall splayed forward to
left with lancetsf at ground floor.
The entrance has a round brick vaulted roof, with doorway to right to chambers,
lantern overthrow at inner arch. On each side of the inner walls, round-arched bays
in stone, each arch over central doorway with window opening to each side; parapet.
To north east side and south west, a double external stair giving access to the roof,
with arches under stairs. All rooms are brick vaulted. On north east side, the
tunnel. Circular caponier to north with gun emplacement, with central iron mounting
and circular pivoting track with degrees marked. This is a Moncrieff mounting.
In 1859, a Commission was formed "to consider the Defences of the United Kingdom",
after the pressure of public opinion following the new that the French Navy were
building iron-clad warships. This was set up by Palmerston. The design of the forts
was in the hands of the Royal Engineers, in the person of Colonel, late Lt General,
Sir W.F. Drummond Jarvis RE. Scraesdon Fort was one of the outer line of forts
defending Plymouth.
Ancient Monument no. 649.
(Sources: Rawlings, K.J.: Defence Works Plymouth Area 1300-1983. 1984)


Listing NGR: SX3928954886

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
61670
Legacy System:
LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Rawlings, KJ, Defence Works Plymouth Area 1300-1983, (1984)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Scraesdon Fort

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 07-Jun-2026 at 19:40:32.

Download a full scale map (PDF)
© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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